Sources Sought -- QA.docx

1. Does the Contract Program Facilitator count toward the minimum of eight distinct contract speakers under PWS 3.3.6?

a. The contract facilitator will not count towards the minimum of eight distinct contract speakers.

2. May contract speakers present virtually if the facilitator and participants are physically together in the classroom?

a. Contract speakers are required to be physically present in the classroom with the participants.

3. Must the contractor administer every diagnostic tool named in PWS 3.3.10, or may it propose a tailored tool set that meets the assessment objective?

The contractor is not required to use the tools identified in 3.3.10. These are provided as examples of what have traditionally been used. The contractor may propose a tailored tool set.

4. May some PWS 3.1 consultation meetings occur virtually, with the program review meeting conducted in person?

Yes some of the consultation session hours to develop the program may be conducted virtually. The program review meeting should be held in person.

5. May the maximum 12 consultation hours be consolidated into one or two working sessions?

a. The consultation hours are able to be consolidated based on availability of government staff.

6. Does the “initial two and ½ day retreat” in the eighth bullet of PWS 3.2 refer to the Government-led Fort Leonard Wood retreat in PWS 3.9, or to a separate contractor-led event?

a. The two and ½ day retreat referenced in the bullet in section 3.2 refers to the government-led Fort Leonard Wood retreat in PWS 3.9. Adjustments to the PWS have been made to reflect this.

7. What contract type is anticipated, and should contractor travel be included in the firm-fixed price or priced through a separate CLIN?

a. A firm-fixed-price contract with options is anticipated. Contractor Travel should be included in each FFP CLIN. NOT through a separate travel CLIN.

8. Is this a follow-on to an existing contract? If so, could you share the current contract number?

a. The contract is not a “follow on” to any existing contract. A follow-on contract is “a type of sole source award made to a contractor that has previously been awarded a design or manufacturing contract for the same item or who has previously performed the services being procured.”. However, the government has procured these services before under contract number W912DQ21C1035 awarded 25-Aug-2021.

9. Virtual ILDP counseling and written feedback (PWS 3.5, 3.3.7, 3.3.9): Section 3.5 says ILDP counseling sessions will "typically" be held in the District office. Would the Government accept some or all of these one-on-one sessions being held virtually (e.g., Microsoft Teams)? Also, may feedback on monthly reflective essays and application reports be provided electronically?

a. It should be assumed that all counseling sessions will be help in person. Feedback on essays and reports can be providing electronically.

10. Classroom delivery format (PWS 3.3): Would the Government consider a hybrid model in which some class sessions are delivered virtually, or must all 80 hours of classroom instruction be delivered in person in the Kansas City area?

a. All 80 hours of classroom instruction will be delivered in person in the Kansas City area.

11. Contract speakers (PWS 3.3.6): May any of the minimum eight (8) contract speakers present virtually while participants and the Contract Program Facilitator meet in person?

a. Contract speakers will be required to present in person.

12. Contractor travel: Should Contractor travel to Kansas City be included in the firm-fixed pricing for each CLIN, or does the Government anticipate a separate travel CLIN?

a. Travel should be included in the pricing for each CLIN.

13. Option Year 3 dates (PWS 1.1): Option Year 3 is listed as January 1, 2030, through December 31, 2003. Please confirm the intended end date is December 31, 2030.

a. Your assumption is correct. Option Year 3 will run from JAN 1, 2030, through 31 DEC 2030.

14. The PWS refers to an accredited academic institution or consultant. Would the Government accept a consultant-led program in which our team delivers the classroom component, with a teaming partner if needed?

a. Yes, a consultant-led program is acceptable.

15. The notice lists an estimated start of January 1, 2027. Does the Government anticipate releasing a solicitation in time for that start, and approximately when?

a. The Government intends to award a resulting contract not later than 1 JAN 2027. The solicitation will be posted accordingly to accommodate this.

16. Option Year 3 in the draft PWS reads "through December 31, 2003." We assume this should read 2030. Please confirm.

a. Your assumption is correct. Option Year 3 will run from JAN 1, 2030, through 31 DEC 2030.

17. Would the District like the final topic list and evaluation measures mapped to the Executive Core Qualifications that took effect on 1 October 2025?

a. The final topic list and evaluation measures can be mapped to the ECQs, but does not have to be limited to that.

18. PWS 1.1 lists Option Year 3 ending on 31 December 2003. Is the intended date 31 December 2030?

a. Your assumption is correct. Option Year 3 will run from JAN 1, 2030 through 31 DEC 2030.

19. Who delivers the initial 2½-day retreat referenced in PWS 3.2, and do those hours count toward the 80 classroom hours?

a. The 2 ½ day retreat refers to the Fort Leonard Wood retreat, conducted by the government, in section 3.9. Adjustments to the final PWS have been made to reflect this.

20. Are the diagnostic instruments in PWS 3.3.10 mandatory, or may the contractor propose equivalent validated instruments? Should diagnostic-tool licensing for all 12 participants be separately priced?

a. The contractor is not required to use the tools identified in 3.3.10. These are provided as examples of what have traditionally been used. The contractor may propose a tailored tool set. The price for these tools should not be priced separate.

21. Is a specific state licensing-board format required for continuing-education/professional-development-hour documentation?

a. No, there is not a specific format required for continuing education documentation.

22. What are the intended scope, audience, and duration of the separately priced specialized leadership-training option?

a. The scope and audience for this option is detailed in Section 3.10.

23. Which Service Contract Act wage determination and labor categories are expected to apply?

a. The applicable wage determination will be WD #2015-5105 covering the work to be performed in Kansas City.

24. May application-report and monthly-essay feedback be delivered electronically if counseling sessions remain in person?

a. Yes feedback for these reports and essays may be provided electronically.

25. Does the District intend to enroll a new cohort of up to 12 employees each contract year, with each cohort completing a separate 12-month program?

a. Yes a new cohort of 12 participants will be selected each year completing a separate 12-month program.

26. Alternatively, would the District consider a progressive, multiyear model in which participants advance through increasingly complex competencies, scenarios, and performance milestones?

a. No we will not accept a multiyear model. Requirements are laid out in the PWS.

27. Is this a new effort, or was there a predecessor contractor?

a. The government has procured these services before under contract number W912DQ21C1035 awarded 25-Aug-2021.

28. If there was a predecessor, what contract number was used?

a. The government has procured these services before under contract number W912DQ21C1035 awarded 25-Aug-2021.

29. What minimum qualifications, credentials, and experience must the Contract Program Facilitator, backup facilitator, graduate-level instructors, and contract speakers possess?

a. No specific minimum degrees, certifications, or years of experience are stated. The facilitator must be capable of performing all PWS duties; the backup must have equal qualifications. Speakers must be experienced public speakers. Priced-option instructors must have topic expertise and adult-learning experience.

30. May the required contract speakers be independent contractors or subcontractors engaged by the prime contractor?

a. Yes. Speakers may be independent contractors or subcontractors; the prime remains responsible for their performance.

31. Must the Government approve proposed contract speakers in advance?

a. Proposed speakers will be approved by the government as a part of the consultation sessions.

32. May a prime contractor use a qualified key subcontractor as the Contract Program Facilitator, or must the facilitator be a direct employee of the prime contractor?

a. The contract program facilitator may be a subcontractor.

33. Must the proposed class schedule and daily training format be followed exactly, or may offerors propose alternative class durations, sequencing, and frequencies?

a. Alternative formats are allowed if they meet the 80-hour minimum, at least 10 sessions, maximum two class days per month, and two-week spacing requirement. The sample daily format is not mandatory.

34. How does the two-week spacing requirement apply to an approved multi-day class module?

a. The two-week spacing applies between separate modules/sessions, not between consecutive days of one approved multi-day module. The two-days-per-month limit still applies.

35. What is the expected annual program calendar, including orientation, classroom sessions, formal graduation, informal graduation, and the relationship between the program year and the calendar-year contract period?

a. The program is expected to run annually, starting in January with a graduation at the end of November or beginning of December.

36. Are there any additional in-person attendance requirements for contractor activities other than classroom instruction, counseling, consultation sessions, speaker presentations, and the program review meeting?

a. Additional attendance includes orientation, one day of the Fort Leonard Wood retreat, year-end retreat, formal graduations, periodic status meetings, and up to 16 hours of unscheduled meetings/appearances.

37. Is the contractor required to issue Continuing Education Units, or only provide documentation of attendance/contact hours?

a. The contractor is not required to issue CEUs, just documentation of attendance.

38. Will prior-year learning materials, books, and program resources be available for contractor review and potential reuse before proposal submission?

a. The contractor will coordinate with the LDP Coordinator after award to identify reusable prior-year materials

39. Who owns, stores, retains, and may access recordings of participant oral presentations? Is the contractor permitted or required to retain a copy?

a. The participants in the cohort will store and retain recordings. The contractor is not required to retain copies of recordingos of oral presentations.

40. Is the contractor expected to attend team-project briefings to the District Commander, despite the PWS stating that team projects are Government-conducted?

a. The contractor is not required to attend team project briefings.

41. Does the phrase “develop and access the program” in PWS paragraph 3.1 mean “develop and assess the program”?

a. Yes the consultation period is for the contractor to develop and assess the program with the government.

42. Will the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan referenced in Appendix A be provided with the solicitation?

a. Yes the QASP will be included as an attachment to the solicitation.

43. Must invoices be submitted through PIEE/Wide Area Workflow in addition to submission to the LDP Coordinator?

a. No, USACE does not utilize Wide Area Workflow. The POC for invoicing will be identified in the possible resulting contract.

44. How should guest-speaker costs be priced—within the applicable CLINs, as a separate CLIN, or another pricing structure?

a. Include guest speaker costs in the applicable CLINs.

45. What acquisition vehicle is anticipated for the requirement?

a. The acquisition vehicle will be identified in the solicitation

46. What set-aside category, if any, is under consideration for the resulting solicitation?

a. Any set-aside decision will be identified in the solicitation.

47. Will the Government provide an opportunity to review and comment on a draft solicitation before release?

a. If the government issues a draft solicitation or other opportunity for comment, it will be announced separately.