SOW Education.pdf

1 | P a g e

FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS

ESTABLISHMENT OF A MECHATRONICS CERTIFICATION AND ASSOCIATE

DEGREE PROGRAM

STATEMENT OF WORK

BACKGROUND AND SCOPE

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is an agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ). It consists of 122 institutions throughout the United States and US Territories, including Hawaii and Puerto Rico; 6 regional offices; a Central Office (headquarters); 2 staff training centers; and 26 Residential Reentry Management offices (previously known as community corrections offices).

The BOP is responsible for the custody and care of approximately 164,000 adult Federal offenders.

Approximately 84 percent of these inmates are confined in BOP-operated facilities, while the balance is confined in secure privately managed or community-based facilities and local jails.

The Education Branch provides meaningful programs to inmates housed within the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Within this branch, new initiatives and programs are developed and offered to assist offenders preparing for release. Academic and Career and Technical Education programs are offered to all inmates, including special populations such as inmates with disabilities.

The Bureau understands the importance of securing employment upon release and wants to further assist inmates with their preparation by providing inmates with skills and certifications for employment in high-skill fields with high demand. The First Step Act of 2018 (FSA), signed into law in December 2018, tasked the BOP to further develop and implement evidence-based and recidivism reduction programs, productive activities, and procedures designed to ensure the most comprehensive reentry preparation beginning on day one of incarceration.

SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED

The BOP intends to make an award or awards to an accredited college or university (or colleges and universities) responsible for the provision of a course of studies leading to an Associate’s Degree Program in Mechatronics, initially at three locations with potential to expand to additional BOP locations. All colleges and universities wishing to participate are encouraged to submit a proposal that with the exception described in the Place of Performance, will offer an on-site, paper-based mechatronics program.

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE AND/OR SPECIAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The college or university offering the program shall be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education System and accredited by a regional higher education accreditation organization (for example, North Central Association of Schools and Colleges, Western Association of Schools or Colleges, etc.). All contract instructors assigned to provide instructional services as part of this contract must possess expertise in the mechatronics field and have at least one year of relevant college teaching experience.

Attachment II 15BNAS21RRCA00081

2 | P a g e

At the minimum, the mechatronics program must include the following components:

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) Component o The curriculum must prepare the inmates to take and pass one or more nationally recognized certification exams in PLCs, such as, but not limited to, PMMI's Programmable Logic Controller I certification.

o The curriculum must directly address the elements of the certification it prepares the inmate to attain.

o The curriculum must include assessments and material for remediation in the areas that inmates may need to be successful in the program.

Electrical Power Component o Curriculum must prepare the inmate to take and pass one or more nationally recognized certification exams, such as, but not limited to, the NIMS Electrical Systems Certification.

o The curriculum must directly address the elements of the certification it prepares the inmate to attain.

o The curriculum must include assessments and material for remediation in the areas that inmates may need to be successful in the program.

Robotics Component o Curriculum must include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following elements:

sensors and transducers; motors and actuators; fluid power; and work envelopes.

o The curriculum must include assessments and material for remediation in the areas that inmates may need to be successful in the program.

The purpose of the program is to train inmate students for careers in mechatronics occupation and to provide necessary knowledge and skills to the inmate students for future entry level positions upon release from incarceration.

The program will include, but not limited to, the following:

Two year Associate Degree Programs (with nationally, regionally or industry-recognized certificates that are widely accepted by employers in an occupation field should inmates not be able to complete the Associate Degree), and

College credits from the program are transferable to other higher education institutions.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Listed below are the selected Federal Institutions for the mechatronics program, initially at three federal prison camps listed below, with the potential to expand to additional sites. Should there a need to expand the program offering at additional locations, the Contracting Officer (CO) and the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) will notify the Contractor of the name of BOP location(s) and BOP staff members for all tasks related to program expansion.

All proposals must include which location or locations the proposed CTE program will be offered.

Federal Prison Camp (FPC) Coleman, Florida

FPC Marion, Illinois

FPC Greenville, Illinois

FCI Pekin, Illinois

3 | P a g e

FPC Terre Haute, Indiana

FPC Milan, Michigan

FPC Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

FPC Edgefield, South Carolina

The program will be performed at the Education Department (or other area/location or place of performance identified and approved by the Supervisor of Education (SOE) of the participating institution) and at the contractor’s campus for the relevant sections of the program.

The estimated enrollment will be between 12 and 15 inmate students per semester or quarter. The contractor will ensure a certificate will be issued when an inmate student successfully completes each of the program component and Associates Degrees when an inmate student successfully complete all the required components.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The manner and method of performing the task outlined in the statement of work is the sole responsibility and within the sole discretion of the contractor; provided, however, that the contractor shall perform in accordance with standards and methods normally accepted by the contractor’s field of expertise.

The Statement of Work, rules and procedures of the proposed contract, security and safety requirements of the institution or institutions, and all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations in effect during the term of this contract will be adhered to.

The contract instructor shall instruct by teaching, lecturing, demonstrating and giving project assignments. The contract instructor shall develop and administer classroom evaluation of the inmate students and submit grades in accordance with the established educational procedures similar to those in the community.

The contract college/university shall be responsible for, but is not limited to the following:

Presenting the course of study that is appropriate in a correctional setting.

Providing instructors to teach college courses at the identified Federal Prison Camps.

Providing syllabus for all classes.

Providing on-site, paper-based college courses in direct classroom instruction with course materials in paper-based format.

Providing all classroom instruction as set forth in curriculums and class syllabuses of the college or university.

Including a permanent record of program enrollments, withdrawals, and completions (certificates and degree awarded).

Enhancing course instruction with opportunities for hands-on training via simulations/scenarios at the college or university campus.

Providing proper examination and evaluation of student coursework to determine competency and mastery of skills taught.

Maintaining student attendance records, learning outcome, and any other documentation required by BOP Policy.

4 | P a g e

The Contractor will ensure all involved contract personnel (where applicable, subcontractor) will not release student records to a third party without the consent of the inmate or BOP COR, BOP Assistant Education Administrator, and BOP Education Administrator.

Providing updates of the course and degree requirements as they become available to the SOE.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Generally speaking, each class session is 75 minutes. Classes will be conducted Monday through Friday, excluding Federal Holidays. The operation of class hours will be arranged by the local SOE and the college/university. Class schedules may be adjusted to meet the needs of the local institution.

Due to the nature of the correctional setting, and other variables, occasional delays in performance of work may occur. Such delays may include but are not limited to inclement weather, electrical or mechanical problems, or other security matters. When contract instructors report to the institution but are unable to perform services due to such delays, any remaining sessions for that day will be suspended and contract instructors will depart the institution. The contract instructor will be responsible for rescheduling missed academic session with the SOE or designee. However, if the institution requests that the contractor remain at the institution for eventual performance, the contractor shall be paid for such sessions. In the event of any absence, the contractor may make up his/her time so long as it does not exceed 24 hours in any given week. If the contractor fails to provide coverage, the Government may seek contractual remedy.

SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

The offeror will provide the degree title, course titles, certificate titles, textbooks, and cost for each student by each quarter or semester for the entire program in the proposal. All required textbooks and student study materials will need to be available in paper-based format without metal book binding materials. In addition to the specific degree and certification titles, the proposal will include itemized textbook, tuition, transcript, and other costs (for example, student fee) by semester/quarter and year.

The institution will provide pencils, pens, paper, and a space for class. Equipment and supplies not provided by the Education Department will be provided by the contractor. The Contractor and/or their instructor(s) will not bring in any equipment, tools or supplies without prior approval from the SOE. The contractor will make recommendations to the SOE pertaining to the selection and purchase of additional supplies and equipment that may be needed. The SOE will use their discretion on the approval and purchase of those items, in accordance with the safety and security requirements of the local institution and funding availability.

INMATE MANAGEMENT/INSTITUTION SECURITY

All contract personnel (administrative staff and instructors) shall agree to adhere to all regulations prescribed by the institution for the safe, secure, and orderly running the institution. The custody of federal inmates remains a primary responsibility of the designated facility. The provision of services under this contract will require frequent and unsupervised contact with inmates. The contractor will not be responsible for the management of inmates, other than to ensure that those inmates involved in activities within the contract personnel’s scope of work shall abide by all rules, in effect, to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. The contract personnel will report any infractions of rules and regulations by any inmate to the SOE or another education staff member. The contract personnel will be required to:

Adhere to the Privacy Act of 1974

5 | P a g e

Clear a Background Check

Sign in and out of the institution for accountability purposes

Wear a badge that will be issued and worn at all times for proper identification

Attend the Institution Familiarization Orientation program prior to assuming institution involvement

Reimbursement to the contractor for the time spent in the institution orientation or other specific security related training will be at the contract rate, prorated hourly. The contract personnel may, at any time, be removed from the institution at the discretion of the Chief of Executive Officer (CEO) or his/her designee. Contractor personnel are to be aware of security and maintain a professional relationship with inmates at all times constantly. The contract personnel will be required to provide documentation to the SOE, or designee, of any infractions of institutional rules and regulations by inmates for proper action.

ATTIRE

All contract personnel are expected to wear professional clothing, appropriate for correctional environment when they are at the federal prisons. Any provocative or revealing clothing is prohibited.

Other clothing items not permitted within the institution are: revealing shorts, halter tops, bathing suits, see-through garments of any type, crop tops, low-cut blouses, leotards, spandex, miniskirts, backless tops, hats or caps, sleeveless garments, skirts, dresses, and any clothing that looks like inmate clothing (khaki or green military-type clothing).

NON-PERSONAL SERVICES/COMMON LAW EMPLOYEE INFORMATION

This service is a contractual arrangement and not a personnel or Civil Service Appointment. As specified in FAR 37.101 “Non-personnel Service Contracts” means a contract under which the personnel rendering the services are not subject, either by the contract’s terms or by the manner of its administration, to the supervision and control usually prevailing in relationships between the Government and its employees. The service does not constitute an employer/employee relationship.

The contractor will not be subject to Government supervision, except for security related matters.

However, contractor performance shall be monitored. All duties outlined in this Statement of Work shall be performed in accordance with standards and methods generally accepted within the Contractor’s own field of expertise.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The contract shall consist of one base period with three option years.

COURSE DELIVERY

All college courses shall be delivered by the contract instructors at the designated federal prison camps.

Upon approval from the SOE, the program can be delivered via correspondence studies for a specified time period. Inmates wishing to participate must meet the pre-requisites of the college/university and other requirements (for example, sufficient time to complete the study).

If inmates requiring accommodations for special learning needs, the instructor will consult with the SOE at the local institution for reasonable accommodations.

CREDENTIALS

The contractor shall make arrangements for the issuance of certificates, college transcripts and/or diplomas for those who successfully complete the programs. The contract college/university shall

6 | P a g e provide two hard copies of the official transcript, one hard copy of credentials (certificate and/or diploma), via United States Postal Service regular mail to the SOE within fifteen (15) business days after inmate students complete the program. At the end of each semester/quarter, one hard copy of transcripts for all students enrolled in the program will be provided to the SOE. The transcripts, completion certificates, and diplomas shall be part of the contract fee. No additional fee shall be required.

For a fee, upon request (written or verbal) from the BOP Contract Officer Representative (COR), BOP Central Office Assistant Education Administrator, and BOP Central Office Education Administrator, the contract college/university shall provide duplicate paper documents (transcript, certificate or diploma) to the addressee and address indicated in the request. The exchange of records and personal identification information between the contractor and the BOP central office education staff shall adhere to the United States Department of Justice and BOP information security requirements and Privacy Act of 1974.

Upon release from federal custody, former inmate students may request, at their own expense, official documents (certificates, transcripts and/or diplomas) from the contractor for an indefinite period of time. The contractor shall provide the COR with accurate instructions for former inmates/students released from BOP’s custody to request official documents (certificates, transcripts and/or diplomas).

PROGRAM SUPPORT AND MANAGEMENT

The contract college/university will dedicate a resource staff specifically to address all issues associated with this contract. No additional costs shall be incurred for the dedicated resource staff’s time and services. The dedicated resource staff will coordinate and address contract administration and operations matters such as processing BOP requests, addressing course content and credentialing, invoices and payments, etc. The contractor shall provide, on a quarterly basis, an itemized invoice for service and books rendered and delivered sent via e-mail to the Bureau Central Office Business Office, CO, and the COR.

In the event that pertinent verbal discussion occurs, discussion shall be summarized with an e-mail for Contractor, CO, and COR.