22Q0023 LDP Program Questions and Answers (02-04-2022).pdf

Additional LDP Questions and Answers (02/04/2022)

1. Are the program start dates in PWS paragraphs 1.6.7 and 1.9 flexible? Will NWO consider vendor suggestions for program dates? Because of the relatively short period of time between the RFQ issue on 29 January and the program start, several of our proposed instructors are already committed to other projects.

Answer: Amendment 0001 has been issued updating information the PWS

2. If the start date is not flexible, in PWS paragraph 1.6.7 Classroom Sessions, the LDP classroom sessions seem to begin in March. The period of performance in paragraph 1.9 indicates the contract starts 1 April. Which is correct?

Answer: April is correct

3. PWS paragraph 1.6.4 refers to October as the start of monthly pre-planning meetings. This seems out of sync since the first class is in March or April (depending on the source). October is halfway into the academic year. What date do the monthly pre-planning meetings start?

4. If the start date is not flexible, in PWS paragraph 1.6.7 Program Outline, should February be changed to March per paragraph 1.9?

5. If the start date is not flexible, in PWS paragraph 1.6.7 Offsite/Retreat, should March be changed to April per paragraph 1.9?

6. In PWS paragraph 1.6.7 Coaching Sessions, may these sessions be conducted virtually? May mentoring and meeting sessions also be conducted virtually? Should the March/April date be changed to April/May per paragraph 1.9, if the start date is not flexible?

Answer: Coaching and Mentoring with must be in person, however, Meetings with NWO Program Manager can be conducted virtually. Amendment 0001 has been issued updating information the PWS

7. If the start date is not flexible, in PWS paragraph 1.6.7 Capstone Project/Graduation, should January be changed to February?. Will NWO issue an updated list of dates if any are changed?

8. In PWS paragraph 1.6.9 first bullet, if the lead instructor is onsite for the program kickoff meeting in March, may he or she make introductions of the other academic instructors virtually, for those unable to attend in person? With the relatively short period of time between the RFQ issue on 29 January and kickoff meeting in March, some of our proposed instructors are already committed to other projects. Allowing virtual introductions of some of our proposed personnel at the kickoff meeting will allow our company to fulfill this requirement.

Answer: Amendment 0001 has been issued updating information the PWS

9. If the start date is not flexible, in PWS paragraph 1.6.14, one set of specialized coaching sessions is set for March-April. Since the POP begins 1 April, should that read April-May?

Answer: Amendment 0001 has been issued updating information the PWS

10. To what extent will the contractor be involved with the capstone project?. Is the contractor responsible for ensuring successful completion of the project or will NWO cadre oversee the project?. Please clarify the contractor’s responsibilities.

Answer: The Contractor is responsible for integrating and guiding the Capstone Project effort into the curriculum and ensuring the learning objectives of the LDP are achieved. Contractor will provide learning objectives that can be utilized and tied to leadership concepts being taught in the classroom. NWO Program Manager will oversee success of Capstone Project

11. In PWS paragraph 1.6.18, will time need to be set aside during the classroom day for students to work on the capstone project, or does the instructor just need to tailor lesson topics to address cogent aspects of the project? Will students work on the capstone project on their own time or during class time?

Answer: Students will work on Capstone after classroom sessions and work on Capstone after classroom sessions on their own time.

12. In Para 1.8, to what level does “senior government executives” refer: field grade officers and senior government service, or higher?

Answer: GS-14 and above, to include active-duty field grade officers and Senior Executive Service

13. Are classroom sessions required every month, or can select sessions be combined into two-day classroom events? . For example, per PWS 1.10.4, may instructors propose two consecutive days of classes per month, scheduled every other month to meet the 80-contact hour requirement for instruction in PRS 4?

Answer: Classroom sessions are required monthly, however due to timelines, some months may have more than one classroom session to accomplish the 80-contract hours

14. In Para 1.10.9, may “Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings” be conducted virtually or during the same day as classes conducted in person, but outside of class time? How many such meetings and for how many hours have such meetings taken in past years for comparison?

Answer: “Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings” be conducted virtually as needed. According to the PWS para 1.6.7 will be up to 1 per month for up to 60 minutes. In the past this has been flexible and was determined based on class objectives and upcoming course material.

15. Will NWO allow hybrid instruction, a blend of in-person and online during monthly classes, to allow for an additional instructor, guest speakers, or flexibility for COVID or other unforeseen events? This is particularly needed for the April and May 2022 classroom sessions because of the relatively short period of time between the RFQ issue on 29 January and the offsite classroom session in April since some of our proposed instructors are already committed to other projects.

Allowing a few virtual lectures by experts in April and May will enable our company to realign its instructors for onsite teaching for the remainder of the contract.

Answer: The intent of this program is to provide On-site instruction to our cohort, however, can be modified based on local CDC guidelines and leadership direction. To the maximum extent as possible these events are required to be in person.

16. Does the 80 hours specified in PRS 4 (page 20) include the hours required for the program kickoff offsite retreat, and the capstone presentation and graduation ceremony, or are these events in addition to the 80 hours?

Answer: These are in addition to the offsite, Capstone and graduation and are specifically designed to be in classroom sessions.

17. To what extent is the contractor expected to be involved with the mentoring program? PWS para 1.6.9 has the contractor presenting an overview of mentoring and providing a Mentoring Resource Guidebook. Para 1.6.14.1 states that NWO will monitor the mentoring program. Para

1.6.20 refers to the contractor being responsible for mentorship training.

Answer: The Contractor is to provide the mentoring overview, to include providing the Mentoring Resource Guidebook to the students. This in intended to ensure that the cohort understands what mentoring is and what is involved in being a part of a mentorship relationship.

18. Are the “facilities” referenced in PWS paragraph 1.10.5, the corporate home base of the winning contractor? That is unclear since this paragraph co-mingles the requirement for classes held within 25 miles of the NWO’s headquarters with corporate facilities, which may not be the same place.

Answer: The contractor will operate from its own office/facilities as they will not be provided office space at the NWO headquarters. Classes will be held within a 25 miles radius of the NWO’s headquarters and location provided by the contractor.

19. Who will provide the venue for graduation? PWS Paragraph 1.6.19 states that the program manager will provide the facility/venue, but paragraph 1.10.5 can be interpreted as the contractor providing the graduation facility.

Answer: See Amendment 0001. PWS updated to reflect that Program Manager is responsible to provide facility/venue however contractor will provide plaques and certificates showing completion.