B08 - ATTACHMENT 0005 - Answers to Questions Received From Industry 24-28MAR2025.pdf

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A4. Successful Offeror will be responsible for their own travel and lodging during this week.

Is it the responsibility of the contractor to develop and facilitate "Shadowing" and "cross-training" assignments? (Reference PWS, section 1.2, Individual Participant Requirements)

B08 - SOLICITATION W519TC-25-Q-A006

Reference Attachment 0001, Section 1.3, page 4, which reads "One of the four training session weeks, will be 1-week temporary duty (TDY) travel to Washington, DC (3 days training at the Brookings Institution, visits to the Pentagon, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and White House Tour, if possible." Will the contractor be responsible for travel and lodging during this travel?

The solicitation states that Technical Experience will be evaluated on an "Acceptable/Unacceptable" basis. Could you provide further details on what constitutes an "Acceptable" level of experience? Are there specific examples of past projects or qualifications (e.g., military vs. corporate leadership training) that the government considers most relevant?

Refer to "Attachment 0003 - JTL Basis of Award.pdf", section II, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g to see what constitutes an "Acceptable" level of experience. The most recent/relevant contract for Journey to Leadership services was W52P1J-19-D-0059, awarded to Priority Executive Development.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS RECEIVED FROM INDUSTRY 24-28MAR2025 REGARDING JOURNEY TO LEADERSHIP

SOLICITATION W519TC-25-Q-A006

Questions and answers are grouped by solicitation document category, with the exception of the additional three categories at the end: Oral Presentations, Miscellaneous, and Previous Contract Number / Incumbent Contractor

No. The successful Offeror would be responsible to review the written reports, with critiques on the written skills as well as incorporating the experience in the coaching sessions.

What role do we play in setting up experiential learning (i.e. Brookings Institute, Pentagon, etc.)? Do we have an ASC liasion who organizes these learning experiences, or is it up to the contractor to facilitate these outings, start to finish? (Reference PWS section 1.3, Group-Session Requirements) Successful Offeror is responsible for all aspects of the Washington DC workshop experience; the Program Manager may be utilized for specific questions the contractor may have during their coordination of the workshop.

ATTACHMENT 0001 - PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

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A7. The U.S. Government requirements are identified in subparagraphs 4.4 and 4.12 of the PWS.

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Substitute instructors must meet all lead instructor requirements and require Program Manager approval in emergency situations.

Reference PWS, Section 5.6 - Pre-Test & Post-Test Evaluation Metrics. How will the government measure success beyond the 10-30% improvement in post-test scores?

The measure of success, as PWS subparagraph 5.6 states, is 10-30%.

Per the requirement "B08 - ATTACHMENT 0001 - Performance Work Statement (PWS), Section 2 (Purpose)": are there specific enhancements the Government is seeking for the JTL Program?

As PWS section 2 states, "The intention of utilizing a PWS instead of a conventional performance-based Statement of Work (SOW) is to provide the flexibility of each Offeror to propose solutions."

Reference PWS, Sections 4.4 and 4.12 - Training Methods & Techniques. Are the training methods flexible, or must they strictly adhere to those outlined in the PWS?

Reference PWS, Section 5.3 - Teaching Materials. Are there existing training materials or curriculum modules? If so, will this material be provided? If so, must this material be incorporated into the program? If not, is the contractor expected to design, develop, and customize new content based on ASC's requirements?

In accordance with PWS, section 3, "The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, materials and assessments necessary to perform direct group-based leadership development training as defined in this PWS."

Reference PWS, Section 3 - Requirement Overview. Can the training schedule be adjusted within the 12-month Period of Performance, or is it fixed?

Once the coordination of dates with the contract awardee is completed in accordance with PWS subparagraph 4.1, the schedule will be fixed (outside of any extenuating circumstances).

Reference PWS, Section 4.5 - Lead Instructor Requirements & Substitutes. How will substitute instructors be approved in case of emergencies?

PWS paragraph 5.8 states the contractor will work with Brookings Institution to procure a 3-day Inside Washington component. Is this a cost borne by the contractor and, if so, should the cost of this then be included in the price quote?

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Q15. Reference Performance Work Statement (PWS) Section 10. Special Qualifications states that "the Contractor must have comprehensive knowledge and experience working with DA missions, and its current and world-wide status. Primary instructor and/or key personnel must have the following qualifications, including a "minimum of 5 years' experience in designing and delivering all of the leadership development modules listed in section 6 above." Over its 20-year development, the JTL program has been primarily supported by a single contractor. This seems to restrict technical qualification to the incumbent, as no other organization meets the special requirement. Would the government consider removing this requirement and making the curriculum Government Furnished Information (GFI) and requesting bidders propose improvements to the current method of instructions during oral presentations?

The ASC program manager may assist the contract awardee with logistics and coordination of the other Washington D.C. visits such as the Pentagon, Walter Reed Military Medical Center, and White House Tour. However, contract awardee will ultimately be responsible for coordinating logistics for these visits.

Reference PWS, Section 5.8 - Procurement of Brookings Executive Education Component. Is a preferred vendor or contract in place to coordinate the Brookings Institution training sessions?

No contract is in place; however, the Brookings Institution training is a requirement.

PWS paragraph 6.3.14 states the Brookings Institution is included in the list of training to be delivered; yet, the components are specific to the Institution. Please clarify expectations on this.

To meet the requirements of this PWS, successful Offeror is required to utilize the described training materials from Brookings Institution in its instruction and to therefore coordinate directly with the Brookings Institution.

Reference PWS, Section 6.3.14 - Brookings Institution & Washington, DC Training. Brookings Institution is identified in the solicitation for the Washington, DC component (Tier III). The PWS states that the contractor will work with Brookings Institution, Brookings Executive Education to provide a three day "Inside Washington" component to the Tier III program at their location in Washington, DC. For clarity, will ASC coordinate logistics for visits to the Pentagon, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and White House Tour, etc. or should the contractor manage this?

Yes to both questions; the cost should be specified for the Tier III component.

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Is the contractor required to involve a trainer with experience as a civilian working in the DoD, or is the contractor sufficient if they are currently doing business with the DoD or DA with acceptable past performance? (Reference PWS section 10.2)

Reference PWS, Section 10.4 - 360-Degree Assessment & MBTI Certification Requirements. Will alternative 360-degree assessments be considered if they meet industry standards?

PWS subsection 1.3, the second bullet point under Group-Session Requirements, states: "A 360-degree evaluation (Center for Creative Leadership’s Benchmark 360 by Design) or approved equivalent evaluation tool." Additionally in relation to this question, Attachment 0003 - JTL Basis of Award, section II (Evaluation Criteria), paragraph 1(d), states the government shall evaluate the Offeror on "Certified to administer and provide feedback on Benchmark By Design 360 Degree Assessment (or comparable 360 Degree Assessment) and MBTI Step II in-depth personality instruments/assessments. Must provide copy of certifications with quote."

Would a comparable alternative personality assessment be acceptable in lieu of MBTI?

Subparagraph 10.4 of the PWS reads as follows: "MBTI Step II is the preferred assessment as it provides additional depth and clarification within each of the four original MBTI dichotomies." Additionally in relation to this question, Attachment 0003 - JTL Basis of Award, section II (Evaluation Criteria), paragraph 1(d), states the government shall evaluate the Offeror on "Certified to administer and provide feedback on Benchmark By Design 360 Degree Assessment (or comparable 360 Degree Assessment) and MBTI Step II in-depth personality instruments/assessments. Must provide copy of certifications with quote."

Subparagraph 10.2 outlines special requirements for training without restricting technical qualifications to a specific contractor. Additionally, the U.S. Government directs Offerors to section 2 of the PWS, specifically, "The intention of utilizing a PWS instead of a conventional performance-based Statement of Work is to provide the flexibility of each Offeror to propose solutions". If an Offeror does not have specific examples to mirror those qualifications described in section 6 of the PWS, Offeror is encouraged to demonstrate similar experience (if applicable), or a different solution to meet the requirements identified.

The answer to this question can be found in the following three documents: 1) PWS section 10 and subparagraphs 10.1 through 10.6; Attachment 0002, section IV, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g; and Attachment 0003, section II, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g.

Would a comparable alternative assessment be acceptable in lieu of the Benchmark By Design 360 Degree Assessment?

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A21. Sample assessments should be included in the Technical Experience/Key Personnel portion of the proposal.

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Q25.

Will there be a requirement to pilot each training prior to delivery?

What collaboration tools will be available for use to support asynchronous learning for the cohorts?

No, there is not a requirement to pilot each training.

Can the government provide additional information regarding why Benchmark by Design is the preferred 360 degree assessment?

Reference PWS, subsection 14.1 - Performance Requirements Summary. What rating measure (e.g. Likert Scale) is required for the End of Course / Student Evaluations?

No, but as a reminder, subparagraph 10.4 includes the following sentence. "The preferred 360 degree assessment instrument is Benchmark by Design, however certification in a comparable 360 Degree Assessment may be acceptable."

Reference Attachment 0001, Section 10.5 Special Qualifications, page 14, which reads "A minimum of 5 years' experience delivering and explaining assessments on topics such as Team Building, Problem Solving, and Communication. Must have assessments for other modules as needed. Must provide sample of assessments with proposal." Can the Government please clarify the requirement for the assessment sample - specifically, how many are required and what topics or content areas they should cover?

Reference PWS, Section 14 - Quality Assurance & Performance Requirements Summary (QASP). Will access be given to historical performance data or past participant feedback to tailor the training?

Historical performance data or past participant feedback will not be provided.

PWS subsection 1.3, the second bullet point under Group-Session Requirements, states: "A 360-degree evaluation (Center for Creative Leadership’s Benchmark 360 by Design) or approved equivalent evaluation tool." Additionally in relation to this question, Attachment 0003 - JTL Basis of Award, section II (Evaluation Criteria), paragraph 1(d), states the government shall evaluate the Offeror on "Certified to administer and provide feedback on Benchmark By Design 360 Degree Assessment (or comparable 360 Degree Assessment) and MBTI Step II in-depth personality instruments/assessments. Must provide copy of certifications with quote." Additionally, the second sentence in PWS subparagraph 10.4 reads as follows: "The preferred 360 degree assessment instrument is Benchmark by Design, however certification in a comparable 360 Degree Assessment may be acceptable."

The end-of-course evaluation is a graded test assessing knowledge gained during the training.

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Will all trainings and training materials need to be integrated into a Learning Management System?

Does the Government anticipate transitioning any of the training programs to primarily virtual deployment to save costs?

Some participants may attend via Microsoft Teams, though final decisions are yet to be determined.

Is there a 508 compliance requirement for the trainings and supporting materials?

There is not a requirement to integrate all trainings and training materials into a Learning Management System.

While not a PWS requirement, the Program Manager is interested in the Offeror's goals for asynchronous learning between the JTL tiers. The intention of utilizing a PWS instead of a conventional performance-based statement of work is to provide the flexibility of each Offeror to propose solutions.

There is no 508 compliance requirement.

Please include volume name and date on every page of each document. Use "Technical" as the volume name for Technical Experience/Key Personnel.

Reference Attachment 0002, Instructions to Offerors (General). Where should we include Representations and Certifications, signed 1449, etc.?

Can we include these with the price submission? If we are registered in SAM.gov, can we acknowledge the reps and certs rather than signing?

The signed 1449 solicitation document, signed solicitation amendment, and completed FAR clause 52.212-3 should be submitted at the same time as the Technical volume, but as a separate file. Offerors are encouraged to carefully read the instructions provided with FAR clause 52.212-3.

Reference Attachment 0002, Instructions to Offerors (General). Can you please confirm if you want Volume Name or File Name on every page of each document?

B08 - ATTACHMENT 0002 - FAR 52.212-1 ADDENDUM - INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

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Offerors shall submit the Technical Experience/Key Personnel (Written), in accordance with section IV, paragraph 1, and subparagraphs a-g.

Reference Attachment 0002, II. General Offer Instructions, #6, which reads "This instruction describes the type and extent of information required and emphasizes the significant areas to be addressed in the quote. Review the Attachment 0001 - Performance Work Statement (PWS) - JTL25 - FINAL (27FEB25) contained in this RFQ for further insight into the areas that must be addressed. Include sufficient information to enable the Government Technical Team to make a determination relative to the Offeror's understanding of the requirements in each of the evaluated areas. It is the Government's intent to award a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) CLIN for JTL Tier I, and a FFP CLIN for the JTL Program Completion Plaque to meet the Government's guaranteed minimum." The PWS states that "Offerors shall ensure that all aspects of the PWS are addressed in their proposal." Will the Government confirm in what volumes the Offeror should address all aspects of the PWS.

Reference Attachment 0002, IV. Technical Experience/Key Personnel (Written), Page 5, paragraph 1, which reads "1. Offeror shall demonstrate in writing to include resumes and any certifications by 3:00pm CDT on April 8, 2025, that key personnel or a combination of key personnel have the following experience" Can the Government please identify the key personnel whose resumes should be submitted with this proposal? The requirements for these personnel are clear, but the specific titles that the Government is looking for is not.

At this time, the Technical Experience/Key Personnel (written) information is all that's required. The required experience and qualifications are listed in PWS section 10, subparagraphs 10.1-10.6; Attachment 0002, section IV, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g; and Attachment 0003, section II, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g.

Reference Attachment 0002, IV. Technical Experience/Key Personnel (Written), Page 5, paragraph 1, which reads "1. Offeror shall demonstrate in writing to include resumes and any certifications by 3:00 pm CDT on April 8, 2025, that key personnel or a combination of key personnel have the following experience". Can the Government please confirm that they are only looking for a description of key personnel with resumes in the Written submission?

According to Attachment 0002, IV. Technical Experience/Key Personnel, there is a 10-page limit including resumes. To fulfill this requirement, we plan to propose at least 5 individuals; however, with 5 resumes and letters of availability we'll be at the 10 page limit without having demonstrated any of the other experience or certifications. Are you willing to expand the page limit to allow us to meet the requirements of this section?

The page limit for the Technical Experience/Key Personnel has been increased to 20 pages to include resumes, certifications, sample assessments, and letters of availability. The signed 1449 solicitation document, signed solicitation amendment, and completed FAR clause 52.212-3 should be submitted at the same time as the Technical volume, but as a separate file.

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A35. The qualifications can be met across all personnel experiences combined.

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Q38. Reference JTL Basis of Award, Section I(3) - Selection & Submission Considerations. Will there be an opportunity for discussions or proposal revisions after the initial submission?

Per the requirement "B08 - ATTACHMENT 0002 - FAR 52.212-1 ADDENDUM - Instructions to Offerors, Section IV (Technical Experience / Key Personnel), Section 1.a": for civilian experience, would direct Government agency experience (i.e., Army) suffice?

The required experience and qualifications are listed in PWS section 10, subparagraphs 10.1-10.6; Attachment 0002, section IV, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g; and Attachment 0003, section II, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g.

Reference Attachment 0002, IV. Technical Experience/Key Personnel (Written), Page 5, paragraph 1, which reads "1. Offeror shall demonstrate in writing to include resumes and any certifications by 3:00pm CDT on April 8, 2025, that key personnel or a combination of key personnel have the following experience" Can you please confirm if the following attachments are outside of the Volume 1 page count: 1. PWS 10.6 sample of assessments; 2. PWS 10.5 RFQ 1.d, copy of certification of benchmark by design assessment; 3. PWS 1.g, letter of availability (one per resource).

Would it be permissible to include these in an appendix?

The page limit for the Technical Experience/Key Personnel has been increased to 20 pages to include resumes, certifications, sample assessments, and letters of availability. The signed 1449 solicitation document, signed solicitation amendment, and completed FAR clause 52.212-3 should be submitted at the same time as the Technical volume, but as a separate file.

Reference Attachment 0002, IV. Technical Experience/Key Personnel (Written), Page 5, paragraph 1, which reads "1. Offeror shall demonstrate in writing to include resumes and any certifications by 3:00pm CDT on April 8, 2025, that key personnel or a combination of key personnel have the following experience" Should each candidate have all qualifications, or is the Government expecting the qualification to be met across all personnel combined?

The Offeror does not need to have a staff member with a specific title; the Offeror is being requested to demonstrate in writing that its staff has the experience and certifications listed in PWS section 10, subparagraphs 10.1-10.6; Attachment 0002, section IV, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g; and Attachment 0003, section II, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g.

B08 - ATTACHMENT 0003 - BASIS OF AWARD

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A40. The U.S. Government will utilize the basis of award at Attachment 0003 to determine the successful offeror for this requirement.

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A41. Multiple Journey to Leadership Tiers may be requested during an ordering period, however the instruction weeks will not overlap.

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Q44. Are there specific certifications, credentials, or prior military experience required for instructors delivering the JTL program?

Section 9(h) of the Section A Narrative (Executive Summary) in the "B08 - Solicitation W519TC25QA006.pdf" document addresses this question.

Section 9(h) reads as follows: "h) Although the Government does not intend to conduct meaningful exchanges, it reserves the right to conduct meaningful exchanges if needed. Additionally, the Government reserves the right to request clarifications during the evaluation process as needed.

Clarifications do not constitute meaningful exchanges and an offeror is not allowed to change their quote in response to a request for clarification. All quotes shall be handled in accordance with FAR Subpart 3.104, Procurement Integrity."

Reference JTL Basis of Award, Section III(b) - Price Evaluation & Unbalanced Pricing Risk. Will price realism be considered if an offer is significantly lower than competitors?

The required experience is listed in PWS section 10, subparagraphs 10.1-10.6; Attachment 0002, section IV, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g; and Attachment 0003, section II, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g.

Is this a current program that is in need of qualified vendors to deliver and manage the current format and components, or a new program to be developed?

Qualified vendors may propose the content of the program based on PWS.

Is there potential for overlapping cohorts and or training sessions during the ordering period? This information would be helpful in determining an optimal staffing model.

Reference JTL Basis of Award, Section II(1)(a) - Technical Experience Requirements. Can the requirement for five (5) years of DoD/Army civilian service be met with equivalent military experience?

My organization has extensive experience in corporate leadership development programs, including tiered training, coaching, and assessments.

Would this qualify as "Acceptable" technical experience, or is prior military/DoD-specific leadership training a mandatory requirement?

Refer to "Attachment 0003 - JTL Basis of Award.pdf", section II, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g to see what constitutes an "Acceptable" level of experience.

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Q50. Allowed Breaks: Are breaks allowed during the four-hour presentation, or must it be continuous?

B08 - ATTACHMENT 0004 - PRICE MATRIX

Travel Considerations: Should travel costs be included in the price matrix, or will they be handled separately?

Presentation Materials: Can handouts or supplementary materials be provided during the presentation, or should all content be contained within the PowerPoint slides?

Handouts and/or supplementary materials cannot be provided during the presentation; all content should be contained within the PowerPoint slides.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

The required experience and qualifications are listed in PWS section 10, subparagraphs 10.1-10.6; Attachment 0002, section IV, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g; and Attachment 0003, section II, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g.

While we await the amendment, could you advise whether corporate leadership training experience (e.g. tiered programs, coaching, assessments) has historically been considered "Acceptable" for similar Army contracts, or if military/DoD-specific experience is typically required?

Refer to "Attachment 0003 - JTL Basis of Award.pdf", section II, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g to see what constitutes an "Acceptable" level of experience.

If military experience is preferred for instructors, would a blended approach (e.g., corporate trainers paired with military Subject Matter Experts) be viable?

The required experience and qualifications are listed in PWS section 10, subparagraphs 10.1-10.6; Attachment 0002, section IV, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g; and Attachment 0003, section II, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a-g.

Travel costs associated with the Offeror's personnel is incurred by the Offeror.

Reference PWS, Section 5.1 - Conference Room & Training Facilities. Will ASC provide the (Audio/Visual) AV equipment, or must the contractor supply these?

Audio/Visual (A/V) equipment, such as projectors or televisions, will be provided for Offeror to connect their devices and project their training.

However, Offeror will not be able to connect to the internet through the Government’s network.

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The maximum email size the Government can receive is 25MB, including the content in the body of the email and all attachments. Note that Offerors may submit multiple emails, however all emails need to be received by the Government by the respective submission deadline. Zip files are not allowed.

Is there a maximum file size for submission?

The required documents should be separated by type and be submitted by their respective deadline.

MISCELLANEOUS

File Format Requirements: Can you confirm if combining the required documents into a single PDF file is acceptable, or should they be separated by type (e.g., Technical Experience, Leadership Development Approach, Staffing Plan, Price Matrix)?

The deadline for submitting questions was not, and is not being, extended.

Is this a recompete of an existing contract? If so, who is the incumbent contractor?

The most recent contract for Journey to Leadership services was W52P1J-19-D-0059, awarded to Priority Executive Development.

What is the dollar amount committed to this contract?

It is the U.S. Government's position to not share this information.

PREVIOUS CONTRACT NUMBER / INCUMBENT CONTRACTOR

Is there an incumbent for this project?

The most recent contract for Journey to Leadership services was W52P1J-19-D-0059, awarded to Priority Executive Development.

The most recent contract for Journey to Leadership services was W52P1J-19-D-0059.

We are reviewing the subject RFP with a SDVOSB prime we work with frequently and wanted to ask if you would be willing to extend the due date for the questions? Currently they are due tomorrow and we would very much appreciate having that date extended to 4/2 if at all possible.

Is there a current or recent contract for these services? If so, we request the contract number.

Short breaks are allowed during the allotted four hours for the presentation; however the breaks shall not cause the presentation session to exceed four hours.

Q58.

A58.

Is there an incumbent? If so, who?

The most recent contract for Journey to Leadership services was W52P1J-19-D-0059, awarded to Priority Executive Development.

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