Statement_of_Work.docx

National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program Scope of Work

Junior Ranger Program for National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program

Background, Objective, and Scope This project shall design a new Junior Ranger Program for the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. Founded in 1998, the Network to Freedom serves to honor, preserve, and promote the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight, which continues to inspire people worldwide. The Network currently represents over 700 locations in 39 states, plus Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through its mission, the Network to Freedom helps to advance the idea that all human beings embrace the right to self-determination and freedom from oppression.

The Network to Freedom program spans the entire United States, and the Underground Railroad’s impacts stretch far beyond national boundaries. Thus, this Junior Ranger program will be designed in collaboration with Network to Freedom Members and partners to connect visitors across the country with Underground Railroad history in their communities.

The Underground Railroad, or resistance to slavery through escape or flight, is a complex international civil rights movement. Each Underground Railroad story is unique and contributes to a larger narrative of resistance in the face of injustice. The junior ranger booklet needs to serve communities across the nation, and provide visitors with tools to explore and engage with their local Network to Freedom listings, regardless of which Network to Freedom listing they visit (either in person or virtually).

Prior to the start of this project, the Network to Freedom team will develop a background report in collaboration with Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, who recently completed a similar project. The background report will include key essays from the new Underground Railroad Handbook to provide context on the subject matter; the Phase 1 Report from Harriet Tubman National Historical Park’s junior ranger project; and key findings from one or more focus group sessions with Network to Freedom members. This background information will allow the contractor to focus solely on the creation of innovative place-based activities, development of original artwork, and production of a print-ready junior ranger booklet.

Contract Type The government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed price contract.

Sam Registration Contractor must be registered in SAM.gov

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

NPS anticipates awarding a contract with 6-month period of performance, not to exceed 03/31/2023.

Deliverables, Price, Delivery Date, and Payment Schedule:

All deliverables shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer’s Representative Diane Miller in a digital format at the contact information below. Payment will be made upon delivery and acceptance of the following deliverables:

Phase 1 report

Upon NPS approval (25%)

Phase 2 report

Upon NPS approval (25%)

Vector art for original illustrations

Upon NPS approval (25%)

Print package for a 16-20 page activity booklet

Upon NPS approval (25%)

Total Firm-fixed Price

100%

The NPS shall provide either acceptance or rejection of deliverables to the vendor within fourteen (14) business days of receiving the deliverable. If the deliverable is rejected, the NPS will provide a reason and will expect corrections to be made and the deliverable to be resubmitted within fourteen (14) business days. No subsequent tasks may be initiated out of sequence or without NPS approval of previous task. All acceptance/rejection correspondence shall be between the COR and the Contractor with the CO cc’d.

Contracting Officer’s Representative The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for the purpose of this order is:

Name: Diane Miller, National Program Manager Address: 4068 Golden Hill Road, Church Creek, Maryland 21622 Phone number: 443-477-4476 Email address: diane_miller@nps.gov

TASKS

Phase 1: Development This phase is likely to take approximately 180-200hours.

· Review key themes, background report developed by Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Network to Freedom Teams.

· Identify optimal activity types, inclusive of ages 4-13; and pair them with themes. Selected activities include examples that are inclusive of visitors with low/no sight.

· Draft activity pages

· Choose an artistic style and solicit art samples.

The Phase 1 Report will contain: a matrix of selected themes with matched activity types across media; art samples from at least three potential illustrators.

Phase 2: Draft and Review This phase is likely to take approximately 80 to 100 hours.

· Implement feedback from park staff

· Implement feedback from panel/focus groups/Network to Freedom Members.

· Hire artist.

· Hire graphic designer to complete layout of program.

The Phase 2 Report will contain: a completed draft of text for activity pages in print booklet; a summary of comments and edits integrated from park staff; a summary of comments and edits integrated from a focus group or review panel; a final list of needed illustrations; spec agreement with an illustrator/designer; a version of the booklet draft that is edited for the digital sequence.

Phase 3: Production

· Graphic designer creates printer-ready document package from Phase 2 report. Contractor will create a draft which the Network to Freedom team will be allowed to review and provide feedback on. Contractor will then create the final, print-ready documents.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Evaluation Methodology:

The Government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed price contract to the responsible offeror whose quote conforms to the solicitation and represents the best value to the Government based upon an integrated assessment of the evaluation factors listed below. The Government will consider: Technical Capability, Personnel, Past Performance, and Price. The factors listed below are in descending order of importance.

When combined, all other evaluation factors are significantly more important than price. However, price will contribute substantially to the selection decision. The evaluated price will not be rated or scored but will be a consideration for reasonableness in the final source selection decision. The government reserves the right to award this action to other than the lowest priced offer.

A. Factor 1- Technical Capability (limited to 2 pages) Offeror shall submit a detailed written description that demonstrates they have the required technical knowledge and necessary equipment to successfully complete this project. A short summary is not acceptable, but instead the offeror shall address the required tasks and the deliverables aforementioned to demonstrate their technical capability and knowledge. Specifically, Offeror shall have the following to be considered technically capable and knowledgeable:

· Subject area knowledge of Underground Railroad resources and partnerships.

· Subject area knowledge of slavery, abolition, and mid- to late-nineteenth century social movements.

· Experience in conducting curriculum-based and place-based educational programs.

· Experience in developing place-based youth programming.

B. Factor 2- Personnel (limited to 2 pages) Offeror shall demonstrate skills and training of personnel involved in this project, showing minimum required skills are met to successfully perform the four (4) tasks listed above.

C. Factor 3- Past Performance (limited to 2 pages)

· An evaluation of offeror’s past performance information will be conducted subsequent to the technical evaluation. The offeror must have demonstrated successful completion of projects similar in quality, technique, and complexity. Preference will be given to quotes that demonstrate past performance of similar projects related to curriculum-based and place based educational programs.

· The evaluation will be based on information obtained from the written proposal, relevant past performance information obtained from sources known to the Government, any other information supplied by the offeror, and any problems encountered on the identified contracts and corrective action taken.

· The Government will assess the relative risks associated with each offeror. Performance risks are those associated with an offeror’s likelihood of success in performing the acquisition requirements as indicated by that offeror’s record of past performance.

· The assessment of performance risk is not intended to be the product of a mechanical or mathematical analysis of an offeror’s performance on a list of contracts, but rather the product of subjective judgement by the Government after it considers all available and relevant information.

· When assessing performance risks, the Government will focus on the past performance of the offeror as it relates to all acquisition requirements, such as: 1) the offeror’s record of performing according to specifications, including standards of good workmanship; 2) the offeror’s record of controlling and forecasting costs; 3) the offeror’s adherence to contract schedules including the administrative aspects of performance; 4) the offeror’s reputation for reasonable and cooperative behavior and commitment to customer satisfaction; and 5) the offeror’s business-like concern for the interest of the customer.

· The Government will consider the currency and relevance of the information, sources of the information, context of the data and general trends in the offeror’s performance. The lack of a relevant performance record may result in an unknown performance risk assessment, which will neither be used to the advantage nor disadvantage of the offeror.

· Offerors shall provide three (3) projects completed in the past five (5) years with a similar scope. Describe any previous experience in providing similar service of this kind, including the scope and complexity of the project.

Note: Listing completed projects does not address this criterion. A narrative that articulates past experience and description of successful completion of deliveries should be discussed.

Price

· Offeror’s price quote will not be point scored or adjectively scored but will be evaluated on price reasonableness. The price quote will also be used as an aid to determine that the Offeror understands the requirements of the solicitation, price reasonableness and to assess the validity of the offeror’s approach to managing and performing the work.

· The offeror shall submit a price quote separate from all other volumes; any pricing information found in the technical or past performance volumes will be removed prior to evaluation.

The Government will evaluate the price quote for reasonableness. The Government will evaluate the cost of the base period, any optional CLINs, and any option periods combined to determine best value to the Government. The Government will also evaluate price with regards to the ability of the offeror to meet requirements in terms of skills required, complexity of disciplines and job difficulty, if the Government deems such analysis necessary.

Government-furnished equipment (GFE): None

Government-furnished information (GFI):

Government will provide research materials for content development and will collaborate with selectee in all stages of development. Government representative will approve all subcontractors.

Place of Performance: All work will take place at the contractor's facility.