Statement of Objectives (SOO)

PART 1: GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Statement of Need: The purpose of this requirement is to obtain contractor support to assist the AmeriCorps VISTA Support Unit (VSU) in facilitating training and developing training content and materials for AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers, Leaders, staff of local partner organizations and agency staff. This Statement of Objectives (SOO) supports VSU’s efforts to deliver effective, high-quality training that strengthens the knowledge, skills, and capacity of Volunteers and partners to implement sustainable community-based initiatives that address the alleviation of poverty.

Under this requirement, the contractor will provide technical and operational support to the VSU in the design, development, and facilitation of training resources and activities. These efforts will help expand access to engaging and accessible learning opportunities, enhance participant preparedness and professional development, and support the ability of partner organizations to build long-term capacity within the communities they serve.

The contractor’s support will contribute to the successful delivery of training programs across multiple formats, including webinars, online training conferences, virtual instructor-led sessions, and in-person, instructor led/classroom events. The resulting training materials, resources, and evaluation insights will support AmeriCorps VISTA in continuously improving its training programs and strengthening the effectiveness and sustainability of VISTA projects nationwide.

1.1 Description of Services: The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide VISTA training resources as defined in this Statement of Objectives (SOO) except for those items specified as Government furnished property and services. The Contractor shall perform to the standards referenced in this SOO.

1.2 Background Information: For over 60 years, AmeriCorps VISTA has tapped the ingenuity and courage of the American people to meet our toughest challenges. Working with nonprofit and community organizations, state and local agencies, Tribal nations, and other partners, AmeriCorps VISTA improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year, AmeriCorps VISTA engages Americans in sustained, results-driven service at thousands of locations across the country, meeting a wide range of community needs in education, health, economic opportunity, disaster services, environmental stewardship, and supporting veterans and military families.

The AmeriCorps VISTA Support Unit (VSU) is made up of 10 individuals including 3 full-time AmeriCorps Training Specialists in FY26.

The VSU training specialists oversee training design, delivery, and evaluation for AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers, Leaders, partners, site supervisors and agency staff. The training program includes live online presentations as well as recorded on demand content housed on the VISTA Campus. The SOO includes online training support as well as in-person event facilitation and content development. The purpose of these training events is to equip AmeriCorps Volunteers, partners and staff with critical knowledge and skills to lead effective and sustainable community projects. The desired outcomes include highly interactive training experiences with high levels of positive participant feedback on each event and the acquisition of core knowledge and skills as demonstrated by valid and reliable knowledge checks.

1.3 Objectives: The purpose of this requirement is to obtain contractor support to assist the AmeriCorps VISTA Support Unit (VSU) in facilitating training and developing training content and materials for VISTA Volunteers and staff of local site partner organizations and agency staff. This Statement of Work (SOO) supports the VSU’s efforts to deliver effective, high-quality training that strengthens the knowledge, skills, and capacity of Volunteers and partners to implement sustainable community-based initiatives that address poverty.

Under this requirement, the contractor will provide technical and operational support to the VSU in the design, development, and facilitation of training resources and activities. These efforts will help expand access to engaging and accessible learning opportunities, enhance participant preparedness and professional development, and support the ability of partner organizations to build long-term capacity within the communities they serve.

The contractor’s support will contribute to the successful delivery of training programs across multiple formats, including e-learning, virtual instructor-led sessions, and in-person events. The resulting training materials, resources, and evaluation insights will support AmeriCorps VISTA in continuously improving its training programs and strengthening the effectiveness and sustainability of VISTA projects nationwide.

1.4 Scope: This requirement provides support to the AmeriCorps VISTA Support Unit (VSU) for the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of training for AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers, Leaders, partners, site supervisors and agency staff. Support may include project management; research and analysis to inform training design and delivery as well as instructional materials;

facilitation and delivery of virtual and in-person training events; evaluation of training effectiveness; translation and interpretation services; and preparation of training materials and reports. The Contractor will collaborate with the VSU to support training activities delivered through the VISTA Campus Learning Management System (LMS) and through instructor-led virtual and in-person training events.

1.5 Period of Performance: The Period of Performance shall be one (1) Base period of 12 months and four (4) 12-month option years.

1.6 General Information

1.6.1 Quality Control: The Contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this SOO. The Contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The Contractor’s quality control program is the means by which the Contractor assures that the work complies with the requirement of the contract. The Contractor shall include the quality control plan in the proposal.

1.6.2 Quality Assurance: The Government shall evaluate the Contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with Technical Exhibit 1, Performance Standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable defect rate(s).

1.6.3 Recognized Holidays: Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the public holidays for Federal employees. Please note that most Federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule. When a holiday falls on a non-workday – Saturday or Sunday – Federal employees usually observe the holiday on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday).

The Contractor shall follow these same guidelines. The Government does not allow direct billing/invoicing for any work on Federal Holidays which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/.

1.6.4 Hours of Operation: The Contractor is responsible for conducting business during the standard hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm (Eastern time zone) Monday thru Friday as determined by the Contractor to meet requirements. In the event that in-person events scheduled, the hours may vary from standard hours of operation to meet the needs of the event participants. The Contractor must at all times maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this Statement of Objectives. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

AmeriCorps observes all Federal Holidays, and the Contractor may not conduct business on such Holidays, unless mutually agreeable at the standard rate.

1.6.5 Place of Performance: Generally, the Contractor will perform work under this contract at a location determined by the Contractor. In the event that an in-person event is scheduled, the Government will collaborate with the Contractor to secure appropriate event space, and work related to such events will be conducted within the designated event space as needed for the success of the event.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/

1.6.6 Type of Contract: The Government anticipates a Firm-Fixed- Price type of contract.

1.6.7 Special Qualifications: The following qualifications shall be met:

• Instructors and facilitators must have experience with and knowledge of national service programming, particularly knowledge of AmeriCorps VISTA.

• Instructors and facilitators must have proven experience with effectively designing and presenting training materials consistent with the principles of instructional design.

• All services must be available in English and Spanish.

1.6.8 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5. The Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the Contractor to review the Contractor's performance. At these meetings the Contracting Officer will apprise the Contractor of how the Government views the Contractor's performance and the Contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. The Contractor shall take appropriate action to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the Government. (Deliverables 3,4,5).

1.6.9 Key Personnel: The Contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work.

The Contractor shall designate in writing to the contracting officer, the name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the Contractor when the manager is absent. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. Qualifications for the contract manager are as follows:

Key Personnel Experience and qualification

Contract Manager

• Demonstrated expertise in content development for online and in person trainings

• Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of national service programming, particularly AmeriCorps VISTA

• Ability to prepare management, business, technical, and personnel reports, reviews and documents for internal and external use

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Superior organizational skills and work ethic

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams in the field of expertise required by this contract

• Experience guiding projects that contain multiple parallel work streams

• A background of leading technical projects delivering on business priorities including stakeholder management

• Minimum Experience: 5 years of past experience managing online and in person training services and successfully managing conferences of 250 to 300 people

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in knowledge fields pertaining to the areas required for this solicitation

Trainers/Facilita tors

• Demonstrated expertise and knowledge of national service programming, particularly AmeriCorps VISTA

• Demonstrated expertise in content development for online and in person trainings

• Demonstrated expertise in content delivery and facilitation in both online and in-person environments

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Superior organizational skills and work ethic

The Contractor must notify AmeriCorps in writing as soon as possible, but no later than two business days, before the Contract Manager is removed from association with this contract, giving the reason for removal. AmeriCorps reserves the right to review qualifications of replacement staff and the right to disapprove of replacement staff. All changes to key personnel must be approved by the Government Contracting Officer.

1.6.10 Identification of Contractor Employees: All contract personnel attending meetings, answering Government telephones, and working in other situations where their Contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. Contractor personnel are required to identify themselves.

1.6.11 Data Rights: The Government has unlimited rights to all documents/material produced under this contract. For intellectual property developed under contract by contractors of AmeriCorps, the Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable license throughout the world, allowing the Government to (a) use, disclose and reproduce the work in any medium of expression now known or subsequently developed, or (b) use the invention for Government purposes.

1.6.12 Organizational Conflict of Interest: Contractor and subcontractor personnel performing work under this contract may receive, have access to or participate in the development of proprietary or source selection information (e.g., cost or pricing information, budget information or analyses, specifications or work statements, etc.) or perform evaluation services which may create a current or subsequent Organizational Conflict of Interests (OCI) as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer immediately whenever it becomes aware that such access or participation may result in any actual or potential OCI and shall promptly submit a plan to the Contracting Officer to avoid or mitigate any such OCI. The Contractor’s mitigation plan will be determined to be acceptable solely at the discretion of the Contracting Officer and in the event the Contracting Officer unilaterally determines that any such OCI cannot be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, the Contracting Officer may affect other remedies as he or she deems necessary, including prohibiting the Contractor from participation in subsequent contracted requirements which may be affected by the OCI.

PART 2 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

2. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

2.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this contract.

PART 3: SPECIFIC TASKS

3. SPECIFIC TASKS:

The contract will provide training support and assistance for the AmeriCorps VISTA program. The training support will focus on Volunteers, Leaders, partners and staff. All requirements of this SOO must be available in English and Spanish and be entirely editable by AmeriCorps VISTA staff.

a. Provide comprehensive training support services for the AmeriCorps VISTA program to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and effectiveness of VISTA Volunteers, Leaders, partner organizations, and agency staff.

b. Provide support in the design, development, implementation and facilitation of training curricula for Ten (10) 200 – 300 person virtual training conference events with separate learning tracks for VISTA Volunteers in their first 6 months of service, VISTA Volunteers in their last 6 months of service and Leaders. Two (2) virtual events will take place in each calendar year.

c. Provide support in the design, development, implementation and facilitation of training curricula for ten(10) 200-300 person virtual training events for partner organizations. Two (2) virtual events will take place in each calendar year..

d. Provide support in the creation and facilitation of up to twenty (20) 90 minute web based training sessions for Volunteers, Leaders, partner organizations, and interested stakeholders per calendar year starting in the base year and continuing in each option year. There will be up to 300 participants per event. These trainings will equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to implement effective community-based projects focused on poverty alleviation and organizational capacity building.

e. Provide support in the design, development, and facilitation of training curricula for 24 in person, 3-day training events per year to include instructor led large group and small, classroom sessions that equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to implement effective community-based projects focused on poverty alleviation and organizational capacity building. There will be no in person events in 2027. In option years 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031 there will be six (6) total events each year (four (4) events for Volunteers/Leaders and two (2) events for partner organizations). There will be up to 200 participants per event.

f. Provide translation and interpretation services for AmeriCorps VISTA, including translating up to 150,000 pages per year of written program policy, handbooks, recruitment and training materials into Spanish and delivering up to 100 hours per year of live interpretation of training sessions in Spanish to increase accessibility for participants.

g. Produce training materials, curricula, evaluation reports, and other deliverables that will support the AmeriCorps VISTA Support Unit in improving training programs and strengthening the long-term impact of VISTA service activities for Volunteers, Leaders, partner organizations and agency staff.

h. Provide comprehensive webinar support services to assist AmeriCorps VISTA in planning, producing, and delivering up to 65 live virtual events for grantees, program participants, and applicants per contract year. Support includes configuring and managing webinar platforms, facilitating live sessions, assisting presenters and participants, and ensuring reliable technical operation to enable effective delivery and technical assistance.

PART 4 ATTACHMENT/TECHNICAL EXHIBIT LISTING

PART 4 ATTACHMENT/TECHNICAL EXHIBIT LISTING

4. Attachment/Technical Exhibit List:

4.1 Attachment 1/Technical Exhibit 1 – Performance Standards

4.2 Attachment 2/Technical Exhibit 2 – Deliverables

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 1: PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Performance Objective

Standard Performance Threshold (This is the maximum error rate)

Method of Surveillance

Provide technical support for up to 60 webinars and virtual events

The Contractor shall provide production and technical support pre, post and during online events including:

production assistance, chat and Q&A management, speaker management, positing links and resources, and technical assistance to event participants.

100% Participant Evaluations/Customer Input/COR

Content creation for up to twenty

(20) 90 minute monthly webinars

The Contractor shall provide content creation, in partnership with VSU staff, for monthly webinars for Volunteers, Leaders and partners on topics provided by the VSU. Content creation will utilize the principles of instructional design.

100% Participant Evaluations/Customer Input/COR

Recruit, orient, and support a diverse team of experienced trainers and speakers to deliver virtual and in person training content.

Contractor shall assist the VSU in recruiting a diverse team of experienced trainers and speakers to deliver content in both virtual and in person events. Trainers must meet the following qualifications:

Trainers must be qualified and able to deliver in-depth content; facilitate scripted and highly interactive sessions as directed; and fully adhere to established training program goals, learning objectives, curricula, and evaluation strategies.

Trainers will have significant work experience with national volunteer service, and knowledge of AmeriCorps VISTA—its mission, programming principles, structure, and Volunteer experience.

Trainers and guest speakers must be highly skilled at delivering content in person and virtually.

100% Customer Input/COR

Guest speakers may be compensated.. All guest speakers must possess critical skills and knowledge to support the VISTA training program goals.

Instructor-led virtual conference events

Over the course of the contract, the Contractor shall provide coordination, logistical, and facilitation support to the VSU for up to 20 live instructor-led virtual conference events designed to engage VISTA Volunteers, Leaders, and partners. These events may include guest speakers, panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and breakout rooms and may support up to 200-300 participants. Tentative event schedule:

FY27: There will be four (4) total virtual instructor-led events. Two (2) events will be for VISTA Volunteers with a track for VISTA Volunteers in their first 6 months of service, a track for VISTA Volunteers in their last 6 months of service, and a track for VISTA Leaders. The first event is likely to occur in March 2027.

Two (2) events will be for VISTA partner organizations.

FY28: There will be Four (4) total virtual instructor-led events. Two (2) events will be held for VISTA Volunteers with a track for VISTA Volunteers in their first 6 months of service, a track for VISTA Volunteers in their last 6 months of service, and a track for VISTA Leaders. The first event is likely to occur in March 2028.

One (1) event will be for VISTA partner organizations.

FY29: There will be four (4) total virtual instructor-led events. Two (2) will be held for VISTA Volunteers with a

100% Participant

Input/COR track for VISTA Volunteers in their first 6 months of service, a track for VISTA Volunteers in their last 6 months of service, and a track for VISTA Leaders. The first virtual event is likely to occur in March 2029.

Two (2) events will be for VISTA partner organizations.

FY30: There will be four (4) total virtual instructor-led events. Two (2) will be held for VISTA Volunteers with a track for VISTA Volunteers in their first 6 months of service, a track for VISTA Volunteers in their last 6 months of service, and a track for VISTA Leaders. The dates will be determined in the fall 2029. The first virtual event is likely to occur in March 2030.

Two (2) events will be for VISTA partner organizations.

FY 31: There will be four (4) total virtual instructor-led events. Two (2) will be held for VISTA Volunteers with a track for VISTA Volunteers in their first 6 months of service, a track for VISTA Volunteers in their last 6 months of service, and a track for VISTA Leaders. The dates will be determined in the fall 2030. The first virtual event is likely to occur in March 2031.

Two (2) event will be for VISTA partner organizations.

24 3-day in person instructor-led events designed to engage VISTA

Over the course of the contract period, the Contractor shall provide facilitation support to the VSU for up to 24 in person instructor-led events designed to engage VISTA Volunteers, Leaders, and partners. These events will include guest speakers, panel discussions, Q&A sessions, 100% Participant

Input/COR

Volunteers, leaders, and partners.

and classroom breakout sessions and may support up to 200 participants. This is the tentative event schedule:

In option years 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031 there will be six (6) total events each year (four (4) events for Volunteers/Leaders and two (2) events for partner organizations)

FY27: There will be no in-person training events.

FY28: There will be six (6) in person training events (four

(4) events for Volunteers/Leaders and two (2) events for partner organizations). The dates and locations will be determined in the fall 2027. The first in person event is likely to occur in March 2028.

FY29: There will be six (6) total events (four (4) events for Volunteers/Leaders and two (2) events for partner organizations). The dates and locations will be determined in fall 2028.

FY30: There will be six (6) total events (four (4) events for Volunteers/Leaders and two (2) events for partner organizations). The dates and locations will be determined in fall 2029.

FY31: There will be six (6) total events (four (4) events for Volunteers/Leaders and two (2) events for partner organizations). The dates and locations will be determined in fall 2030.

Translate written materials

For each contract year, the contractor shall translate up to 150,000 pages of existing VISTA program and/or training materials from English to Spanish; materials will be posted online.

Provide interpretation of Training Curriculum (virtual and in person)

For each contract year, the contractor shall provide on site interpretation of training curriculum and deliver up to 100 hours of virtual training in Spanish per year. Original English curriculum and all training logistics will be provided by the VSU.

TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 2: DELIVERABLES SCHEDULE

# Deliverable Content Frequency Medium/Format Submit To

1. Project Plan Defining the responsibilities, timeline, risks, and milestones

MS Word, MS Excel, or PDF No later than Ten (10) days after award

CO

2. Monthly Report Summary information listing number of each of the basic services provided, issues encountered and resolutions

This should also include the shortest and longest response times for each service provided

Within five (5) business days after the last day of the previous month

Electronic Submission

MS Word - Contractor Format Acceptable

COR

3. Yearly Report Summary information listing number of each of the basic services provided, issues encountered and resolutions, trends in each of the basic service areas, process improvement ideas

Within 20 business days following the end of the contract year

Electronic Submission

MS Word - Contractor Format Acceptable

COR

4. Meeting Agenda Topics to be discussed Within five (5) business days prior to the meeting

Electronic Submission

MS

PowerPoint/Word/Excel – Contractor Format Acceptable

COR

5. Meeting Materials

Materials to provide details for the topics to be discussed

Within two (2) business days prior to the meeting

Electronic Submission COR

MS PowerPoint/Word/Excel

– Contractor Format Acceptable

6. Meeting Minutes

Documents the discussion of the meeting

Within five (5) business days following the meeting

Electronic Submission

MS Word Contractor Format Acceptable

COR

1.6.3 Recognized Holidays: Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the public holidays for Federal employees. Please note that most Federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule. When a holiday falls on a non-workday – Saturday or Sunda...