QA.pdf

W91243-21-Q-TB01

Q&A document

1. What is the rationale behind only including diverse minority representation in the survey and focus groups?

The Nebraska National Guard’s predominant population is white males. Our goal is to have diverse leaders in key leadership positions (Lieutenant Colonel and above for officers, 1SG and above for enlisted) in order to better represent the population of our communities. In order to do this we must retain diversity in our force, meaning keeping our minority members motivated to stay in our organization and move up the ranks. Our organization is working great for white males – we want to find out if there is any policies or other issues that are preventing minorities from moving upwards.

2. If the concern is to undercover formal and informal policies that act as obstacles to fair and equitable treatment, why wouldn’t a diverse representation of the National Guard – including Caucasian males – be sampled?

Same as above: Our organization is working great for white males – we want to find out if there is any policies or other issues that are preventing minorities from moving upwards. We want more diversity in our senior leaders.

3. What does it mean to identify formal and informal policies that act as obstacles to fair and equitable treatment and opportunities or issues/trends that get in the way? What are some examples from the recent past that clearly illustrate the words and concepts?

Looking at our organization from the eyes of the majority (white male) everything looks fine. We want to know and understand from a minority perspective if there are any issues that affect them that the majority population is not aware of. A recent example that affected the entire force was the active duty Army and Air Force recently updated their ‘Wear and Appearance if the Military Uniform’ policies to include wearing pony tails for females and allowing cultural significant hair styles such as corn rows for African Americans that were not authorized for wear in the past. Again – looking at that from the white male perspective we wouldn’t have thought there was a problem. Looking at it from a minority perspective there were obvious issues affecting minority members.

4. Can we obtain access to documents on the history of the Nebraska National Guard along with current policy statements prohibiting discriminatory practices?

Yes. The vendor awarded the contract will have access to this documentation.

5. Will the government consider extending the request for proposal deadline? Doing so will allow more time to dialogue.

The Quote due date has been extended to August 17th, 2021 at 2 p.m. CDT.

W91243-21-Q-TB01

Q&A document

6. “1.3 Period of Performance (PoP): The Period of Performance will be a 100 calendar days period starting from date of contract award.” Q. (Are these days counted (Sat-Sun) the weekends and include AT drills (2wks) or does the Government want the contractor for 100 consecutive calendar days?)

Reads 100 calendar days which will includes weekends for the AT drills. These are consecutive days. It is the intent of the government to have the study completed in a timely manner once it has started.

7. Does the Government specifically require email notification for survey reminders, or will an alternate method be sufficient such as text messaging?

Phone numbers will be made available for text messaging to the contractor awarded the contract.

8. Can any information that will help contextualize the presenting problem: elements, symptoms, known origins of conflict, to include studies’, organizational assessments, command climate surveys, which will aid in our discovery, be provided?

Past climate surveys will be made available to the awarded contractor as well as discrimination complaint data. The origins of conflict can’t really be pinpointed. There isn’t really a conflict we are aware of. The reason the Commanding General is doing this is due to the social unrest of minority citizens of our country throughout the last two years. Looking at the issues through the lens of the majority (white male) there doesn’t appear to be any issues. We want to get a look at our force through the minority perspective to identify issues we might not be aware of.

9. Can the Government disclose the total population of “identified members” of the Nebraska National Guard? Additionally, what is the population of the leadership at the Nebraska National Guard Armories?

Currently approximately 912 identified members. The population of leadership at the National Guard Armories will vary from location to location. Some armories have one company sized unit, some have more than one company sized unit. Others have a battalion headquarters which greatly increases the numbers of leaders.

Each company sized unit has One Captain, four to five Lieutenants, a First Sergeant, and three to five Sergeant First Classes and numerous junior non-commissioned officers (Staff Sergeants and Sergeants). Battalion Staffs contain one Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, numerous Captains and Lieutenants as well as two Sergeant Majors, and numerous non-commissioned officers.

10. In regard to PWS 5.5.7 and 5.5.8, would the Government consider altering these requirements? Yes, will be discussed with the awarded contractor.

10a. In regards to Technical Exhibit 1’s 5.5 states surveillance method that the KO or authorized Government representative will attend the focus groups, would the government consider altering this requirement? Yes. This can be discussed with the awarded contractor.

END OF DOCUMENT