Hubzone PWS-11-15-2019_Final ver.pdf

Section C - Descriptions and Specifications

Performance Work Statement

1. General Information – This is a non-personal services requirement to support the Combat

Capabilities Development Command (CCDC), Army Research Laboratory (ARL) initiative to create and strengthen networks that connect the CCDC - with academia, industry, and government agencies to facilitate the exchange of scientific ideas, the production of knowledge, and the development of a

STEM workforce by carrying out the K-College STEM education and outreach programs. The

Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the project requirements. The awardee shall be accountable for the execution of each project requirement awarded and is solely responsible to the Government in accordance with (IAW) the terms and conditions of the contract.

1.1 Description – The contractor shall provide all personnel, supplies, facilities, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide the services as defined in this Performance Work Statement (PWS).

1.2 Background and Vision Statement - The CCDC‘s ARL employs more than 3,000 military and civilian personnel of which two thirds occupy science, technology, engineering or mathematic

(STEM) positions within its research laboratories, extramural office and regional campuses across

America. These scientists and engineers develop leading-edge technologies and advanced capabilities that give our Soldiers, the Army’s greatest asset, the decisive advantage in the face of our adversaries and keep them safe from harm; however, most students, teachers and university faculty/administrators are unaware of the opportunities within the Army, or DoD, that contribute to the ecosystem supporting the Soldier or our nation’s capabilities.

1.3 Scope and Objectives - The primary focus is to create and strengthen networks that connect the Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC)- Army Research Laboratory (ARL), academia, industry, and government agencies and that facilitate the exchange of scientific ideas, the production of knowledge, and the development of a STEM workforce by carrying out the K-College

STEM education and outreach programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S.

Department of the Army to help address the nation’s need of a diverse, agile and highly competent

STEM-literate talent pool. In order to successfully achieve these objectives the CCDC ARL’s vision includes developing a pipeline of STEM repository where people attain the skills and experience for the future workforce. The network facilitates the attainment of Army objectives and ensures the

Nation’s preeminence in science and technology (S&T).

The Army derives value from its relationships with academia, industry, and other government agencies. The mission of the CCDC-Outreach Program Office is to create and strengthen connections to the academic, industrial, and government agencies who have shared interests and a stake in the

Nation’s advancement of science and technology. The community is populated by the STEM talent and the Outreach Program Office augments the pipelines that provide the STEM talent. The outreach mission is simultaneously a philosophy, a purpose, and a commitment. In pursuit of this mission, the

CCDC-ARL Outreach Program Office will contribute to the overarching missions of the CCDC-ARL and of the Army. The contractor shall manage, plan and execute the Laboratory’s STEM education and outreach program portfolio that will focus on the following STEM priorities and core objectives:

1.3.1 Task 1: The contractor shall provide Administration and Programmatic support services to broaden, deepen, and diversify the pool of STEM talent in support of the Defense Industry Base. The contractor shall continuously monitor the program, assess the effectiveness, and efficiency of methods employed and inform the Government of opportunities to improve the program. The primary objectives of this program are to:

1) Encourage and reward the number of U.S. citizens or nationals trained in disciplines of science and engineering DOD and CCDC – ARL related programs of importance.

2) Increase participation of underserved populations in DoD and ARL Outreach initiatives.

3) Develop continuing relationships with stakeholders and the sponsoring military services;

each service is responsible for mentoring and interacting with its selected awardees.

4) Attract science and engineering baccalaureate graduates to pursue doctorates in DoD mission related research areas from US institutions.

5) Expand involvement of students in ongoing DoD/ CCDC - Army related research;

6) Improve/ Develop marketing techniques to increase awareness of DoD and CCDC -

ARL STEM career opportunities

1.3.2 Task 2: The contractor shall develop and implement a cohesive, coordinated and sustainable STEM education outreach strategies and infrastructure across CCDC – ARL to attract eligible and highly-qualified applicants: The primary objectives of this program are to:

The contractor shall market and promote the CCDC ARL Outreach program to attract the highest qualified prospective applicants via contractor developed website. The outreach effort shall include the design and distribution of advertising and application materials and an appropriate method to reach audiences from which qualified applicants will be drawn. The outreach effort shall be wide ranging, national in scope and comparable to other nationally renowned undergraduate and graduate level science and engineering student programs. The contractor shall identify relevant media for communicating the program. The contractor shall submit marketing strategy to the Contracting Officer

Representative (COR) for approval. The strategy should include marketing to diversified S&T community (HBCU/MIs, Tier I-III US institutions, & professional organizations/conferences).

Marketing techniques/ approaches to consider:

1) Partnering with universities, schools and teachers at local, state and regional educational agencies for shared standards in science and mathematics;

2) Provide awareness of STEM educational programs/ opportunities for students at all stages of their K-20 education;

3) Develop and implement cohesive program metrics for each individual program across the CCDC – ARL platforms;

4) Provide online resources for educators and the CCDC - ARL workforce to share best practices:

5) Provide and expand mentor capacity of the Army’s highly qualified scientists and engineers;

6) Increase educators’ awareness of DoD, Army and CCDC - ARL opportunities;

7) Integrate CCDC - ARL programs into strategic and comprehensive marketing strategy inclusive of an internal centralized website and application tool;

8) Support and compliment the Army and CCDC - ARL STEM Strategies;

9) Develop, capture and communicate program standards and best practices.

1.3.3 Task 3: The contractor shall distribute, receive, log, process, sort and track application materials: The contractor shall administer and coordinate the application process. The contractor shall distribute descriptive announcements and applications as well as forms for such activities as evaluating applications and tracking progress. The contractor shall collect and categorize applications for review and selection by technical panels. The database should be updated promptly with application information so that demographic lists, alphabetical lists, and other data are easily accessible. The contractor will be expected to provide demographic and other analyses of applicants or selectees as requested by the sponsoring agencies.

1.3.4 Task 4: The contractor shall ensure that all eligibility requirements have been met by the applicant prior to evaluation. Evaluation of each application should be based on all available evidence of merit, including, but not limited to: Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), undergraduate transcripts, personal statements, and reference evaluation forms. Applications that are incomplete and/or do not meet minimum eligibility requirements should not be made available to panel members for evaluation.

The contractor shall successfully solicit the willing participation of high caliber evaluators from academia, government (DoD and other federal agencies), and industry who have doctoral degrees from the science and engineering disciplines (S&E) detailed in Para. 1.1. The contractor shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure that evaluation panels include a minimum of three (3) DoD (AF, Army, & Navy) S&Es per research discipline area.

Selection of qualified evaluators is a vital component in the successful operation of the program. While the DoD agencies rely on the contractor to identify and convene appropriate panels of technical experts, the agencies reserve the right to review and approve recommended panelists. The contractor shall arrange and coordinate discipline-specific panel meetings to review and evaluate applications. After a rank order listing of the applicants is submitted per discipline, the DoD agencies reserve the right to make final selections for bestowal of Student recipient awards.

1.3.5 Task 5: The contractor shall formally notify all applicants (including unsuccessful applicants) in writing of the outcome of the review process and make formal offers of appointment to selected applicants in writing. The contractor shall verify all successful applicants’ citizenship eligibility requirement. All correspondence sent to successful and unsuccessful applicants must be approved by the GPM and CO.

1.3.6 Task 6: The contractor shall manage, develop a logical recording system to track and administer payments of stipends and academic expenses in accordance with their internal written policy and procedures. Furthermore, upon selection of the student recipients, the contractor shall establish administrative files for each new fellow. Each new student's information will be entered into the administrative database. Presently, this outreach program provide stipends and student's allowances. The CCDC-ARL shall determine annual stipends for each year for each class prior to distribution of applications. Stipends are paid monthly directly to the fellows. The contractor shall implement an electronic direct deposit system to effectively distribute stipend and academic fees even during peak payment periods. Stipend payments shall be electronically transferred directly to each fellow's financial institution on a monthly basis. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure CCDC-ARL students are in good academic standing prior the distribution of stipends and allowances.

The contractor shall report the amounts of all stipend payments and allowances on each student recipient to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on the appropriate Federal forms and within the IRS required timeframes.

1.3.7 Task 7: The contractor shall formally notify all applicants (including unsuccessful applicants) in writing of the outcome of the review process and make formal offers of appointment to selected applicants in writing. The contractor shall verify all successful applicants’ citizenship eligibility requirement. All correspondence sent to successful and unsuccessful applicants must be approved by the

GPM and CO.

1.3.8 Task 8: Gather, Store and Maintain Data Pertinent to Administration of the CCDC ARL Outreach

Program:

The contractor shall create and maintain a database management system for CCDC-ARL Outreach program information. The contractor shall ensure there are personnel sufficiently trained in database management such that they can maintain the system and generate required reports and queries for information. The contractor shall maintain records of all applicants for four years from date of application to the program; records of selectees shall be maintained following end of students tenure or the records shall be transfer to the COR upon task order completion. The contractor shall maintain a database of all student recipients in the program, to include information regarding the fellow's institution, current address and home of record address, scientific discipline, academic record, thesis topic, publications, comments and any benefits derived from participation in the program, whether or not the fellow participated in summer employment at a DoD facility, current status of fellow, payments made to the fellow and to the fellow’s academic institution, and other data of potential interest for analysis. This database shall be capable of generating multiple queries in a timely manner with accurate and comprehensive information provided to DoD and Congressional personnel regarding the program's demographics, minority participation, attrition, follow-on research opportunities and program finances.

The database must also be capable of transferring data to a successor contractor’s database system.

1.3.9 Task 9: Provide Regular and AD Hoc Reports Regarding Demographics, Program Effectiveness, and Trends: The contractor shall maintain, handle and transmit data, reports and/or analysis containing personally identifiable information (PII) consistent with all applicable laws and regulations. Contractor shall have access to information, records, and data which may be sensitive and/or proprietary. The

Contractor shall not divulge sensitive and/or proprietary information to anyone not authorized to receive such information. All Contractor personnel shall be required submit to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement upon receipt of award.

1.3.10 Task 10: The contractor shall provide the following deliverables:

1.3.10.1 Financial and calendar quarterly program reports in a malleable format, such as a

Microsoft Word document or Excel spreadsheet, and in hard copy on the status of applications, placements, progress, interactions, and payments of stipends, allowances, tuition and fees, to permit timely re-estimates of program costs. The contractor shall provide calendar monthly financial reports on the distribution of tuition/stipends/benefits to GPM for review. Fiscal year-end reports on these program features, as well as a final program report solicited from the Student recipients, are also required. The contractor shall provide to CCDC ARL and the other sponsoring DoD agencies, annual summaries and evaluations of the program demographics, academic progress, difficulties noted in providing services and appropriate suggested revisions of program procedures, as well as, the fiscal year-end report including program highlights appropriate for high-level dissemination within the DoD RDT&E community.

1.3.10.2 The contractor shall conduct quarterly and one annual Program Management Review

(PMR) with the COR, KO, and other government personnel at the discretion of the GPM. The annual PMR will be held in conjunction with the fourth quarterly review.

1.3.10.3 The contractor shall provide the following annual reports in a malleable format, such as a

Microsoft Word document or Excel spreadsheet, and in hard copy on a recurring basis. Due dates will align with the cycle of the program and parallel to the academic year, August 1st to July 31st. For example, the applicant analysis will be used to assess the effectiveness of outreach efforts and so should be completed in time for sufficient review and possible implementation of changes in time for the next iteration of program activities. The contractor should recommend a timeline with milestones to respond to this list of reports. In all cases, written results are required.

1.3.10.4 Applicant Analysis Report – This report shall include the following information on applicants: Undergraduate school; (2) GRE scores; (3) grade point average (GPA); (4) discipline;

(5) gender; (6) ethnic group; and (7) matriculating institution state distribution. The information shall be analyzed and evaluated to the extent that the outreach effort can be judged for effectiveness.

Include information on minority recruiting that includes a description of the effort conducted to attract qualified minority applicants, and a description of the results.

1.3.10.5 Selectee Analysis Report – This report shall include the following information on selectees:

(1) undergraduate school; (2) intended graduate school; (3) GRE scores; (4) GPAs; (5) discipline; (6) general evaluation of recommendations; (7) gender; (8) ethnic group; and (9) matriculating state distribution. Include a list of selectees who turned down the CCDC ARL Outreach Program award and their reasons why. The information shall include an analysis so that trends can be inferred and critiqued, and the outreached effort can be evaluated for effectiveness.

1.3.10.6 Academic Report – This report will monitor each student’s progress, before the end of each academic year as certified by advisors and as evidenced by transcripts, provide general summations in cases of satisfactory progress and a written “alert” to the appropriate agency in case(s) of unsatisfactory progress by fellow(s).

1.3.10.7 Annual Current Fellows Status Report – This report shall include: (1) list of fellows who intend to complete their doctoral degrees, how they plan to pursue their degrees, these topics, and any publication or patent information; (2) list of fellows who have completed CCDC-ARL Outreach

Program tenure and do not plan to pursue their doctoral degrees and why; (3) list of annual dropouts, reasons why they left the program, and plans for subsequent study or employment; (4) final program report and (5) list fellows who have completed internships, their locations and brief work description..

1.3.10.8 Annual Former Fellows Status Report –This report shall include information on former

Fellows for at least 10 years following the end of student tenure to include: (1) academic pursuits and plans if former Fellow is in school; (2) employment information if the former fellow is employed; and (3) any publication or patent information. The contractor will survey former CCDC ARL student recipient to collect the data required for this report.

1.3.10.9 These reports shall provide any evaluation/assessment/analysis in response to current political/managerial/ philosophical question(s) based on the following factors (singly or in some combination): (1) demographic; (2) ethnic background; (3) graduate school choice; (4) advisor; (5) discipline; (6) academic progress, requirements; (7) student recipient conditions and provisions compared to similar programs;(8) GPA’s; (9) gender; (10) Student’s coursework and (11) trends.

This includes ad hoc requests for data or reports from DoD to allow their response to any inquiries.

1.3.10.10 Calendar Quarterly Financial Status Report – Financial and administrative information on applications, placements, progress, interactions, and payments of stipends, allowances, tuition and fees, travel, balance or carry-over due to drop-outs will be executed based on the calendar quarterly schedule (January – March, April-June, July-September, and October-December). This report must include a line-item corresponding to each current CCDC ARL students indicating the amounts paid in tuition and fees, stipends, and any other funds. The quarterly report should include a metric for payments that tracks on-time and late payments.

1.3.10.11 Calendar Monthly Stipend Financial Status Report – Financial information on payment of stipends, allowances, tuition and fees, and travel for CCDC ARL students. This report may be submitted in MS excel spreadsheet format to GPM by the fifth day of the month.

1.3.10.12 Panel Review Report – Financial and administrative information on the CCDC ARL review panel to panelists invited to the panel (including reviewer names, contact information, and employment), panelists who actually attended, and itemized cost of panel including costs per panelist.

The review panel will occur during the base year only.

1.3.11 Task 11: The contractor shall plan, coordinate and administer all aspects of a CCDC ARL

Outreach Program Workshops. The event will allow newly selected CCDC ARL student recipients to network with each other as well as DoD scientists and engineers, and allow defense officials to showcase defense research and development and highlight current opportunities. Efforts shall include coordination with the GPM on location, agenda development, and possible federal government facility/laboratory site visits. The contractor shall coordinate fellows’ travel, lodging and per diem reimbursement. CCDC ARL students will be funded for one CCDC ARL Outreach Program Workshop during their tenure.

1.3.11.1 The CCDC ARL students are required to attend the CCDC ARL Outreach Program

Workshop (see 2.2.8) within their award term. The contractor shall coordinate CCDC ARL students travel, lodging, and per diem reimbursement.

1.3.11.2 When travel under the provisions listed herein, CCDC ARL students shall be authorized travel expenses consistent with the substantive provisions of the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR) and the limitation of funds specified in applicable travel CLIN of the contract. The contractor shall coordinate fellows’ travel, lodging and per diem reimbursement.

1.4 Contractor Manpower Reporting Application: The Contractor and Subcontractors(s) shall report all

Contractor and Subcontractor labor hours required for performance of services under this contract via a secure data collection site. The Contractor and Subcontractor(s) will enter CMR data into DoD's

Enterprise-wide Contractor Manpower Reporting Application (CMRA) not later than 31 October each year for the just completed Government Fiscal Year (FY). This applies to all services including imbedded services equal to or greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) provided in support of Task Orders, engineering assignments or modifications authorized after the incorporating of this requirement/clause into the contract. Services are defined in FAR 37.101. The Contractor and

Subcontractor(s) are required to completely fill in all required data fields using the following secure web address: https://www.ecmra.mil/.

The Contractor and Subcontractor(s) will use the Contractor Manpower Reporting Application

(CMRA) Contractor and Subcontractors Users Guide and the Frequently Asked Questions for instructions on how to input the required information. The guides and frequently ask questions are available at the CRMA link above. The prime contractor will flow this requirement to all

Subcontractors meeting the SAP threshold and verify with Subcontractors that inputs are being accomplished as required. In accordance with (lAW) CMRA Contractors User's Guide, the only

Contractor that can view the Invoice Amount, Direct Labor Dollars and Direct Labor Hours is the user that enters its original data. All other data is public information. Subcontractors(s) will not be able to view prime Contractor data entered for the Invoiced Amount, Direct Labor Dollars and Direct Labor

Hours. At no time will any data be released to the public with the Contractors' name and contract http://www.ecmra.mil/ http://www.ecmra.mil/ number associated with the data. In accordance with the CMRA Subcontractor User's Guide, only the

Subcontractor can input its own data. In addition, the only Subcontractor that view the Direct Labor

Dollars and Direct Labor Hours is the user that entered its original data. All other data is public information. Prime Contractors will not be able to view Subcontractor's data entered for the Direct

Labor Dollars and Hours. In the event a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Department of

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) or Air Force Federal Acquisition

Regulation Supplement (AFFARS) clause is established to support CMRA implementation, the

Contracting Officer and prime Contractor will review the implementation guidance and determine if it will supersede this special clause and take appropriate action, including the prime Contractor reserving its rights to any equitable adjustment that may be due, in order to incorporate any new clause(s) as may be required.

1.5 AT/OPSEC Required PWS Paragraphs:

1.5.1 Question 2a: For contractors requiring Common Access Card (CAC). Before CAC issuance, the contractor employee requires, at a minimum, a favorably adjudicated National

Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) or an equivalent or higher investigation in accordance with Army Directive 2014-05. The contractor employee will be issued a CAC only if duties involve one of the following: (1) Both physical access to a DoD facility and access, via logon, to DoD net-works on-site or remotely; (2) Remote access, via logon, to a DoD network using DoD-approved remote access procedures; or (3) Physical access to multiple

DoD facilities or multiple non-DoD federally controlled facilities on behalf of the DoD on a recurring basis for a period of 6 months or more. At the discretion of the sponsoring activity, an initial CAC may be issued based on a favorable review of the FBI fingerprint check and a successfully scheduled NACI at the Office of Personnel Management.

1.5.2 Question 11: For Contract Requiring Performance or Delivery in a Foreign Country, DFARS Clause 252.225-7043, Antiterrorism/Force Protection for Defense Contractors outside the US. The clause shall be used in solicitations and contracts that require performance or delivery in a foreign country. This clause applies to both contingencies and non-contingency support. The key AT requirement is for non-local national contractor personnel to comply with theater clearance requirements and allows the combatant commander to exercise oversight to ensure the contractor’s compliance with combatant commander and subordinate task force commander policies and directives

1.5.3 Question 12: For contracts that require handling or access to classified information.

Contractor shall comply with FAR 52.204-2, Security Requirements. This clause involves access to information classified “Confidential,” “Secret,” or “Top Secret” and requires contractors to comply with— (1) The Security Agreement (DD Form 441), including the

National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (DoD 5220.22-M); (2) any revisions to DOD 5220.22-M, notice of which has been furnished to the contractor.

1.6 Inherently Governmental Functions: The Contractor shall not provide inherently governmental functions as defined in FAR 2.101 under this task order.

1.7 Non-Personal Services: The Government will neither supervise contractor employees nor control the method by which the contractor performs the required tasks. Such Contractor employees shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn, is responsible to the

Government. Under no circumstances will the Government assign tasks to, or prepare work schedules for, individual contractor employees. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to manage its employees and to guard against any actions that are of the nature of personal services or give the perception of personal services. If the Contractor believes that any actions constitute or are perceived to constitute personal services, it shall be the Contractor's responsibility to notify the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) immediately.

1.8 Contractor Furnished Items and Responsibilities: The Contractor shall furnish all personnel, facilities, equipment and supplies unless otherwise provided by the Government.

Contractor shall propose resources to address requirements for this task order.

1.9 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP): The Government will monitor the

Contractors performance under this contracting accordance with the Governments QASP.

1.10 Government Furnished Property and Services: The Government customer will sponsor the appropriate security clearances, Badging, Common Access Cards (CAC), Theater

Business Clearance (TBC), Letter of Authorization (LOA), and access to government/military facilities for contractor to perform appropriate tasks.

1.11 Data Rights: At the task order level, the contractor and its subcontractors shall provide a detailed Data Rights Assertion table (contractor format acceptable) that identifies and provides information pertaining to technical data (including computer software documentation) and computer software that the contractor and subcontractors claim to qualify for delivery with less than Unlimited Rights. The contractor shall agree not to withhold delivery of the technical data or software based on its claims. The Government shall investigate the validity of the contractor’s claims, and therefore, reserves all its rights regarding the technical data/software in question.

1.12 Place of Performance: TBD

1.13 Period of Performance: The performance period consist of a twelve month based period and four (4) twelve (12) months option years.

1.14 Points of Contract:

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): TBD

Contracting Officer (KO): Leroy R. Hardy, Jr., 919-541-4722, email:

Leroy.r.hardy.civ@mail.mil

Contract Specialist (CSPEC): Ramila Century, 919-549-4214, email:

Ramila.century.civ@mail.mil mailto:Leroy.r.hardy.civ@mail.mil mailto:Ramila.century.civ@mail.mil