W91QF0-16-T-0007_Revised_040716.doc

W91QF0-16-T-0007

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation for a DDE Second Year Studies Faculty Instructor at the U.S. Army War College (USAWC) Carlisle Barracks, PA.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The solicitation number is W91QF0-16-T-0007. The solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ) pursuant to FAR 13.

This notice incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-83 effective 3 August 2015 and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). The complete text of any of the clauses and provisions may be accessed in full text at http://farsite.hill.af.mil or http://www.acquisition.gov/far/.

This is a Total Small Business Set Aside. The associated NAICS code for this procurement is 611310 and the small business size standard is $27,500,000.00. Product Service Code is U099.

Quotes are due No Later Than (NLT) 18 April 2016 at 4:00 p.m. EST. Quotes shall be emailed to the POC’s for this requirement, Contract Specialist roger.n.miller.civ@mail.mil and Contracting Officer claudette.r.lyons.civ@mail.mil. All questions shall be submitted via e-mail to the POC’s for this requirement and they will be responded to on an amendment to this solicitation.

All vendors submitting a quote must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

The Description of all requirements are in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) to follow.

The following FAR clauses and provisions apply to this acquisition.

The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial, applies to this acquisition (See RFQ to follow for Addendum) The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Evaluation criteria: Technical, Past Performance, and Price. Award will be made to: The Lowest Price Technically Acceptable Quote. In order to be considered for an award, the quoter must be responsible, must conform to the combined synopsis/solicitation, and the quote must be determined both Technically Acceptable and Past Performance Acceptable. The lowest price that meets the aforementioned criteria will be awarded the purchase order. (See RFQ to follow for Addendum)

Quoters must include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items and 52.219-1, Small Business Program Representations (OCT 2014) – Alternate I (MAY 2014) with its quote.

The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes Or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

Any award resulting from this solicitation will be issued on a Standard Form (SF) 1449.

Schedule of Contract Line Item Numbers (CLIN’s)

Name & Address of Contractor

Contractor Cage Code

Battlefield Staff Ride Guide (OPTIONAL QUOTE – NOT MANDATORY )

Authorized Contractors Signature

Printed Name of Authorized Contractor Signature

Date of Signature

OPENING NOTES

This solicitation is issued in accordance with FAR 13.5 – Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items.

Quote and Proposal / Offeror and Quoter are used interchangeably. The contractor may opt to subcontract a portion of the work to another ably qualified instructor IAW FAR 52.219-14, however contractor shall limit the total number of faculty instructors to two (2) faculty instructors to fulfill the requirements of a contract. Any such intent to subcontract must be detailed in writing at time of quotation and include exactly what line items the subcontractor would perform. This will include exactly what portion of the contract will be fulfilled by the named subcontractor. All primary contractor instructors and subcontracted instructors are required to possess the same qualifications as detailed in 4.0 of the Performance Work Statement (PWS). The prime contractor is solely responsible for the performance of the contract including those items subcontracted.

Line items listed as “Optional,” either in the Contract Line Item (CLIN) structure or in the PWS, are Optional for exercise solely by the government. Contractors must quote all CLIN’s to be considered for an award, with the exception of the Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) XX11 for a “Battlefield Staff Ride Guide.” The CLIN’s for a “Battlefield Staff Guide Ride will be evaluated separately and not included in the overall evaluation and pricing of a submitted quote. Contractors that do not meet the qualification required for a “Battlefield Staff Guide Ride” may still submit a quote, excluding the Battlefield Staff Ride Guide CLIN’s. Additional information is provided in the Basis for Award.

Additionally:

1. All information on the solicitation must be filled out completely and returned. Incomplete submissions will be determined not in conformance to the Solicitation and may be rejected.

2. Please be sure to read the entire solicitation for sections that require vendor information to be submitted.

3. All contractors must be actively registered in System for Award Management (SAM) in order to receive a Department of Defense contract (See DFARS 252.204-7004 ALT A). Registration information can be obtained at the following website: www.sam.gov/portal /public/SAM/.

Contractors are advised to register upon receipt of this solicitation since there is a time lag between registration and registration availability.

The government reserves the right to award up to four (4) contracts resulting from this solicitation to responsible quoters on a Low Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis whose quote, conforming to the solicitation, will be the most advantageous to the Government. Please also refer to the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and FAR 52.212-2.

Quotes which are unrealistic in terms of technical or unrealistically low in price will be deemed reflective of an inherent lack of technical competence or indicative of a failure to comprehend the complexity of the proposed contractual requirement and may be rejected.

In selecting the offer most advantageous to the Government the following factors will be considered: Technical, Past Performance and Price.

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

U.S. ARMY WAR COLLEGE, SCHOOL OF STRATEGIC LANDPOWER

DEPARTMENT OF DISTANCE EDUCATION, SECOND YEAR STUDIES

FACULTY INSTRUCTOR SERVICES

1.0 GENERAL:

1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: This Performance Work Statement identifies the minimum requirements to serve as a Faculty Instructor and Evaluator for a Distance Education Program (DEP) in the Second Year Studies Program, Department of Distance Education (DDE), U.S. Army War College. This work encompasses four online Core Courses and two summer Resident Courses with associated programs, and includes the evaluation of student performance in online discussion forums, on papers and writing projects, and during resident seminar discussion. The work includes the development, instruction and evaluation of an online elective and a Graduate Seminar. This work is specific to the distance education courses listed in the contract line item schedule. The contractor shall perform to the standards of this contract.

1.2 Background:

1.2.1 The U.S Army War College Distance Education Program is a blended, online and resident Senior Service College spanning two academic years, running from May through June during the first year, and June through July the second year. During the first year of studies, the curriculum consists of a two-day resident orientation seminar; a nonresident (online) orientation course; four nonresident (online) Core Courses; and the two-week First Resident Course in June. During the second year of studies, the curriculum consists of four nonresident (online) Core Courses; a nonresident (online) elective or writing project; and the two-week Second Resident Course, followed by graduation in July.

1.2.2 DEP courses employ techniques such as instructional commentary, directed readings, learning objects, video and audio recordings. DEP assessment methodologies include but are not limited to: written papers of various formats, ranging in length from 500 to 2000 words; research projects in the range of 5000-6000 words; asynchronous, online discussion forums where students produce individual or team submissions; online written examinations; exercises; and face-to-face, synchronous discussion, using both Blackboard Collaborate software and conducted in the seminar room during the two Resident Courses.

1.2.3 The U.S. Army War College’s Learning Management System (LMS currently consists of two distinct systems. Blackboard performs the functions of a Content Management System (CMS) and the Online Academic Student Information System (OASIS) serves as a Student Information System (SIS.) As a CMS, Blackboard delivers course content to students and hosts asynchronous discussion forums to access student learning. Blackboard Collaborate™ allows synchronous discussions and real-time interactions between faculty and students. As an SIS, OASIS maintains student biographical, contact and academic information, and provides a venue to receive, evaluate and store student products submitted to meet assessment requirements.

1.3 Objectives: The Faculty Instructor shall provide instruction, assessment and guidance to students enrolled in the Distance Education Program (DEP).

1.4 Scope: The Contractor shall serve as a Faculty Instructor and Evaluator providing services for a Distance Education Program (DEP) seminar(s) in the Second Year Studies Program, Department of Distance Education (DDE), School of Strategic Landpower, U.S. Army War College. The work encompasses four online Core Courses and two summer Resident Courses with associated programs, and includes the evaluation of student performance in online discussion forums, on papers and writing projects, and during resident seminar discussions. The work includes the development, instruction and evaluation of an online elective and Graduate Seminar. This work is specific to the distance education courses listed in the contract line item schedule.

1.5 Period of Performance: The period of performance shall be 01 June 2016 – 31 July 2018, provided all options are exercised. The Period of Performance reads as follows:

Base Year:

1 June 2016 – 31 May 2017

Option Year I:

1 June 2017 – 31 May 2018

Option Year II:

1 June 2018 – 31 May 2019

Option Year III:

1 June 2019 – 31 July 2019

The Three option periods will be exercised unilaterally at the Government’s discretion.

1.6 General Information:

1.6.1 Quality Control: The Contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The Contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The Contractor’s quality control program is the means by which he assures himself that his work complies with the requirement of the contract. The QCP shall be delivered to the COR within 30 days after contract award. Three copies of a comprehensive written QCP shall be submitted to the KO and COR within 5 working days when changes are made, thereafter. After acceptance of the quality control plan, the contractor shall receive the contracting officer’s acceptance in writing of any proposed change to his QC system.

1.6.2 Quality Assurance: The government will evaluate the Contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. This plan focuses on what the Government must do to ensure that the contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. The plan defines the application of performance standards, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable defect rate(s).

1.6.3 Recognized Holidays: The following Federal legal holidays are observed by this installation:

New Year’s Day

Labor Day

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday

Columbus Day

President’s Day

Veteran’s Day

Memorial Day

Thanksgiving Day

Independence Day

Christmas Day

1.6.4 Hours of Operation: During the period in which the Contractor is actively involved in the evaluation process, the Contractor shall be accessible to students and DDE Government employees by e-mail and by phone during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time) except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings. For other than firm fixed price contracts, the contractor shall not be reimbursed when the government facility is closed for the above reasons. The Contractor must maintain at all times an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS when the Government facility is not closed for the above reasons. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

1.6.5 Place of Performance: The work performed under this contract will be performed at:

a. U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

b. Another location from which the Contractor can perform all aspects of this Contract.

1.6.6 Type of Contract: The government will award a Firm Fixed Priced Contract.

1.6.7 Security Requirements: Contractor personnel performing work under this contract are not required to have a security clearance.

1.6.7.1 Physical Security: The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government equipment, information and property provided for contractor use. At the close of each work period, government facilities, equipment, and materials shall be secured.

1.6.7.2 Key Control. The Contractor shall establish and implement methods of making sure all keys/key cards issued to the Contractor by the Government are not lost or misplaced and are not used by unauthorized persons. NOTE: All references to keys include key cards. No keys issued to the Contractor by the Government shall be duplicated. The Contractor shall develop procedures covering key control that shall be included in the Quality Control Plan. Such procedures shall include turn-in of any issued keys by personnel who no longer require access to locked areas. The Contractor shall immediately report any occurrences of lost or duplicate keys/key cards to the Contracting Officer.

1.6.7.2.1 In the event keys, other than master keys, are lost or duplicated, the Contractor shall, upon direction of the Contracting Officer, re-key or replace the affected lock or locks; however, the Government, at its option, may replace the affected lock or locks or perform re-keying. When the replacement of locks or re-keying is performed by the Government, the total cost of re-keying or the replacement of the lock or locks shall be deducted from the monthly payment due the Contractor. In the event a master key is lost or duplicated, all locks and keys for that system shall be replaced by the Government and the total cost deducted from the monthly payment due the Contractor.

1.6.7.2.2 The Contractor shall prohibit the use of Government issued keys/key cards by any persons other than the Contractor’s employees. The Contractor shall prohibit the opening of locked areas by Contractor employees to permit entrance of persons other than Contractor employees engaged in the performance of assigned work in those areas, or personnel authorized entrance by the Contracting Officer.

1.6.8 Special Qualifications: The Contractor is responsible for ensuring all employees possess and maintain currency on items listed in this PWS.

1.6.9 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5. The contracting officer, Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings, the contracting officer will apprise the contractor of how the government views the contractor's performance and the Contractor shall apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the government.

1.6.10 Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The (COR) will be identified by separate letter. The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract: perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance: maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract: issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications: monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property, and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

1.6.11 Key Personnel: Identified by the potential Contractor at time of bid submission.

1.6.12 Identification of Contractor Employees: All contract personnel attending meetings, answering Government telephones, and working in other situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. They must also ensure that all documents or reports produced by contractors are suitably marked as contractor products or that contractor participation is appropriately disclosed. Contractor personnel are required to obtain and wear badges in the performance of this service.

1.6.12.1 The contractor shall provide each employee an identification (ID) badge on contract start date or on employment start date. The ID badge shall be made of nonmetallic material. The badge shall be easily readable and include employee’s name, contractor’s name, functional area of assignment, security clearance if applicable, and color photograph. The ID badge template shall be approved by the contracting officer or his or her designee before contract start date.

1.6.12.2 Display of Id Badges: Contractor personnel shall wear the ID badge at all times when performing work under this contract to include attending Government meetings and conferences. Unless otherwise specified in the contract, each contractor employee shall wear the ID badge in a conspicuous place on the front of exterior clothing and above the waist except when safety or health reasons prohibit such placement.

1.6.12.3 Answering Telephones: Contractor personnel shall identify themselves as contractor employees when answering Government telephones.

1.6.12.4 Utilizing Electronic Mail:

(1) When contractor personnel send e-mail messages to Government personnel while performing on this contract, the contractor’s e-mail address shall include the company name together with the person’s name.

(2) When it is necessary for contractor personnel to have a user address on a Government Computer, the Government shall ensure that person’s e-mail address includes the name of their company.

1.6.13 Conduct of Employee: The contractor is fully responsible for the performance and conduct of their employees at all times while on post performing under this contract. The contractor shall not allow any employees to perform work under this contract while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any other incapacitating agent. Military police and other law enforcement personnel on post have the right to deny entry to post or remove from post any contractor employee for misconduct, which endangers the health or safety of people or property or for reasons of security. In addition, the Post Commander may bar an individual from entering the post under the authority of 18 U.S.C 1382. Removal from post of a contractor employee in accordance with the above shall not relieve the contractor from the requirement to meet all of the terms and conditions of the contract.

1.6.14 Contractor Travel: The Contractor shall be required to travel to Washington, DC during First Resident Course and to Antietam, Sharpsburg, VA and Gettysburg, PA for the Battlefield Staff Rides conducted during the summer resident courses. The Government will provide transportation to all three of these events. The Contractor shall be authorized travel expenses (for meals and incidentals) consistent with the substantive provisions of the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR) and the limitation of funds specified in this contract. All travel requires Government approval/authorization and notification to the COR. The Contractor may be required to travel to off-site training locations in support of this PWS.

1.6.15 Data Rights: The Government has unlimited rights to all documents/material produced under this contract. All documents and materials, to include the source codes of any software, produced under this contract shall be Government owned and are the property of the Government with all rights and privileges of ownership/copyright belonging exclusively to the Government. These documents and materials may not be used or sold by the contractor without written permission from the Contracting Officer. All materials supplied to the Government shall be the sole property of the Government and may not be used for any other purpose. This right does not abrogate any other Government rights.

2. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS:

2.1 DEFINITIONS:

2.1.1 CONTRACTOR. A supplier or vendor awarded a contract to provide specific supplies or service to the government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

2.1.2 CONTRACTING OFFICER. A person with authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the government. Note: The only individual who can legally bind the government.

2.1.3 CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR). An employee of the U.S. Government appointed by the contracting officer to administer the contract. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall state the scope of authority and limitations. This individual has authority to provide technical direction to the Contractor as long as that direction is within the scope of the contract, does not constitute a change, and has no funding implications. This individual does NOT have authority to change the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.1.4 DEFECTIVE SERVICE. A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the Performance Work Statement.

2.1.5 DELIVERABLE. Anything that can be physically delivered, but may include non-manufactured things such as meeting minutes or reports.

2.1.6 KEY PERSONNEL. Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the PWS. When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, an offer can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the proposal.

2.1.7 PHYSICAL SECURITY. Actions that prevent the loss or damage of Government property.

2.1.8 QUALITY ASSURANCE. The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the Contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

2.1.9 QUALITY ASSURANCE Surveillance Plan (QASP). An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology used for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.10 QUALITY CONTROL. All necessary measures taken by the Contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.1.11 SUBCONTRACTOR. One that enters into a contract with a prime contractor. The Government does not have privity of contract with the subcontractor.

2.1.12 WORK DAY. The number of hours per day the Contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

2.1.13 WORK WEEK. Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.

2.2. ACRONYMS:

ACOR

Alternate Contracting Officer's Representative

AER

Academic Evaluation Report

AFARS

Army Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement

AR

Army Regulation

CCE

Contracting Center of Excellence

CD

Course Director

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations

CNSP

Commandant’s National Security Program

CONUS

Continental United States (excludes Alaska and Hawaii)

COR

Contracting Officer Representative

COTR

Contracting Officer's Technical Representative

COTS

Commercial-Off-the-Shelf

DA

Department of the Army

DD250

Department of Defense Form 250 (Receiving Report)

DD254

Department of Defense Contract Security Requirement List

DDE

Department of Distance Education

DEP

Distance Education Program

DFARS

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement

DMDC

Defense Manpower Data Center

DOD

Department of Defense

FAR

Federal Acquisition Regulation

FRC

First Resident Course

GFE

Government Furnished Equipment

GFI

Government Furnished Information

GFM

Government Furnished Material

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

JPME

Joint Professional Military Education

KO

Contracting Officer

LMS

Learning Management System

LCMS

Learning Content Management System

OCI

Organizational Conflict of Interest

OCONUS

Outside Continental United States (includes Alaska and Hawaii)

ODC

Other Direct Costs

OPMEP

Officer Professional Military Education Policy (OPMEP)

PEM

Personal Experience Monograph

PIPO

Phase In/Phase Out

POC

Point of Contact

PRP

Program Research Program

PRS

Performance Requirements Summary

PWS

Performance Work Statement

QA

Quality Assurance

QAP

Quality Assurance Program

QASP

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

QC

Quality Control

QCP

Quality Control Program

SRC

Second Resident Course

TE

Technical Exhibit

VOIP

Voice Over Internet Protocol

3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

The Contractor shall be directly responsible and accountable for all Government property in his/her possession. The Contractor shall return all Government property in its original condition at the end of the contract period of performance. The Contractor shall sign for receipt of Government property.

The Government will provide the following Government-Furnished Information (GFI), Government-Furnished Materials (GFM) and Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE). Any additional GFI, GFM and/or GFE shall be requested through the COR.

3.1 Services:

3.1.1 Provide access to, maintain and operate the DEP LCMS/LMS.

3.1.2 Provide a user account on the U.S. Army War College Local Area Network (LAN) in accordance with paragraph 4.3.4. This account will include an e-mail address and access to the DEP LCMS/LMS.

3.1.3 Government property mail services, for official Government business only, and only in direct support of this contract.

3.1.4 Transportation in support of the Washington D.C. trip during First Resident Course and the Battlefield Staff Rides during both Resident Courses.

3.1.5 Transportation in support of the Battlefield Staff Rides (if applicable.)

3.2 Facilities:

3.2.1 Provide access to computer terminals on the U.S. Army War College LAN in common-user study carrels in the U.S. Army War College Library, or in DDE spaces, as available. The Government will not issue a computer as GFE to the Contractor.

3.2.2 Telephone services at the U.S. Army War College, only for direct support of this contract.

3.3 Utilities: The Contractor shall instruct employees in utilities conservation practices. The contractor shall be responsible for operating under conditions that preclude the waste of utilities, which include turning off the water faucets or valves after using the required amount to accomplish cleaning vehicles and equipment.

3.4 Equipment:

3.4.1 Access to, i.e., scanners, fax machines, printers, copiers.

3.5 Materials:

3.5.1 Provide course references in electronic or paper form.

3.5.2 Issue a Common Access Card (CAC), as needed in accordance with paragraph 4.2e.

4.0 CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS:

4.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Part 3 of this PWS. Contractor may provide up to two (2) Faculty Instructors to share the responsibilities of this contract. All faculty instructors of this contract shall meet the Contractor Qualifications defined in paragraphs 4.2 and 4.3 of this PWS.

4.2 The Contractor shall possess:

4.2.1 Either a Senior Level College education from a Senior Service College, or have successfully completed a minimum of one graduate level course from each major field of study in the U.S. Army War College curriculum:

a) Strategic Leadership and Ethics

b) National Security Policy and Strategy

c) Theory of War

d) Military History

e) Elements of National Power (Diplomacy, Information, Economics)star

f) Civil-Military Relations

g) Military Strategy, Operational Art and Planning

h) Materiel Acquisition, Force Development, Human and Fiscal Resources

i) Joint Military Doctrine

j) Regional Issues in at least one of the following areas:

a. South & East Asia/Pacific

b. Europe, Russia/Central Asia

c. Sub-Saharan Africa

d. Latin America

e. North Africa/Middle East

4.2.2 At minimum, a master’s degree from an accredited graduate degree granting institution in a major field of study listed in paragraph 4.2.1.

4.2.3 Minimum of one year experience, within the past 5 years, as a faculty instructor at either a Senior Service College or an accredited graduate degree granting institution teaching graduate level courses. Faculty experience shall be in one of the major fields of studies listed in paragraph 4.2.1.

4.2.4 The ability to effectively conduct graduate-level, inquiry-driven seminar learning and be knowledgeable in the concepts of adult learning, Bloom’s taxonomy, seminar discourse, seminar team building and reflective learning.

4.2.5 Practical expertise of at least 6 months each in two or more of the fields of study within the U.S. Army War College curriculum listed in paragraph 4.2.1.

4.2.6 (Required only if quoting for the Battlefield Staff Guide on CLIN’s XX11 of solicitation) Requires General American Civil War history for context; specific knowledge of Antietam and Gettysburg; detailed knowledge of the campaign, leaders and the battlefield; and the ability to relate strategic leader competencies and course materials studied by U.S. Army War College students to events that occurred on the respective battlefield.

4.3 The Contractor shall be:

4.3.1 Experienced in the use of Microsoft Office® (i.e. Word, Outlook, Power Point, SharePoint Portal).

4.3.2 Experienced, within the past 3 years, in the use of a Learning Management System (LMS) recognized in the academic community; see paragraph 2.3. Examples include, but are not limited to, the current version of the U.S. Army War College OASIS, Desire2Learn®, Blackboard, or Moodle™.

4.3.3 Experienced (or willing to be trained on site or via distance learning) in the use of the VOIP collaboration tool Defense Connect Online hosted on Adobe Connect®.

4.3.4 Able to meet all requirements to be issued a Common Access Card (CAC) as set forth on the Defense Human Resource Activity website titled, “Getting Your Common Access Card (CAC),” http://www.cac.mil/common-access-card/getting-your-cac/ (accessed 13 May 2013).

4.3.5 Able to meet all personnel security requirements to be granted access to a U.S. Government Information System (the U.S. Army War College local area network) as set forth in Chapter 4 of Army Regulation 25-2, Information Assurance.

4.3.6 Able to perform word processing and data entry tasks associated with evaluating and electronically annotating student submissions and recording correspondence and conversations in the LMS database.

4.3.7 Experienced (or willing to be trained on site) in the use of visual and automation technology in the individual seminar rooms at Carlisle Barracks.

5.0 TASK REQUIREMENTS

5.1 Core Courses: During each academic year, the Contractor will instruct, advise, and evaluate two seminars, each composed of up to eighteen U.S. Army War College students (military, government civilians, and international fellows) during four online Core Courses. In each Core Course, the Contractor must provide faculty comments evaluating and assessing each student’s performance in each individual evaluation requirement (for example, a paper or an online discussion forum) and for the overall course. The Contractor shall enter these evaluation comments within the appropriate fields in the DEP LMS by the due date in paragraph 5.0.

5.1.1 Faculty Preparation and Advising. The Contractor shall analyze course objectives and curriculum materials and incorporate guidance from the DDE Chairman, the Year Group Director and the Course Director (CD), as the Contractor prepares him/herself to lead students through the curriculum materials and evaluation requirements.

5.1.1.1 U.S. Army War College graduates must be exposed to the most current Officer Professional Military Education Policy (OPMEP) guidelines and understand the learning objectives outlined in appropriate Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) documents published by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The real-time nature of Distance Education requires dedicated self-study and preparation by the Contractor to comply with the JPME requirements in the OPMEP. The Contractor shall maintain currency with evolving professional military education requirements through dedicated individual preparation and participation in a program of lifelong learning based on the OPMEP.

5.1.1.2 The Contractor shall attend a faculty training session lasting up to three hours that is conducted by the Course Director for each Core Course. This training usually occurs several weeks prior to the first online discussion forum in a particular course and may include a post-course, after-action review session of the previous, completed Core Course. The Course Director will provide administrative information on the conduct of forums and rubrics for the evaluation of student papers and forum participation. See also paragraph 5.10.

5.1.1.3 The Contractor can expect to spend approximately one hour per week per seminar, throughout the entire academic year, communicating with and advising his/her students on administrative and academic issues. The Contractor shall notify the Year Group Director within one business day regarding potential student academic problems or unusual student personal or professional situations that may affect the student’s performance in the DEP.

5.1.1.4 The Contractor shall return student telephone calls and e-mails within twenty-four hours of receipt. The Contractor shall enter substantive conversations with students into the DEP LMS “Official Correspondence” field under “Students” menu.

5.1.1.5 The Contractor shall host and record (at least) two synchronous Collaborate sessions, using the DEP LMS. At least one session shall cover the essay requirements, and (at least) one session shall cover the Forum requirement(s). If the contractor has two seminars s/he may combine the students in one session.

5.2 Evaluating Writing Requirements. During each Core Course, the Contractor shall evaluate/re-evaluate written requirements (papers) submitted/resubmitted by students from his/her seminar(s).

5.2.1 The U.S. Army War College Communicative Arts Directive publishes evaluation standards which may be amplified by the Course Director and the Year Group Director. The Contractor shall provide commentary and assessment using the review function in Microsoft Word® directly into each paper. The Contractor shall further provide formal assessment with amplifying commentary in the appropriate DEP LMS fields. Requirements submitted online shall be evaluated online.

5.2.2 The Contractor shall provide each student with feedback on the content, organization, and style of each submission in accordance with DDE guidance. Feedback shall be diagnostic and corrective, giving individual mentorship on writing style, grammar and punctuation, critical thought, organization and substance of content as outlined in appropriate U.S. Army War College curriculum material. The intent is to promote effective writing and analysis at the strategic leader and graduate levels and to identify those students who require remedial instruction. Corrective comments, commendatory acknowledgements, and content commentary on each essay must be substantive and constructive, pointing the student toward specific areas for improvement, extending the student’s learning, and identifying strengths.

5.2.3. If a student submits unsatisfactory work, the Contractor shall provide a clear, legible, and detailed analysis that explains why and how it did not meet the standard and the necessary corrections to make that work satisfactory. The Contractor shall make personal notification to each student who fails to meet the standard by telephone or email. The Contractor shall evaluate resubmissions in the same manner as the original submission. The DDE Chairman makes all final determinations of acceptability of submissions.

5.2.4 The Contractor will complete evaluations of student submissions and resubmissions in the DEP LMS by the due date in paragraph 7.0. During the period in which the Contractor is actively involved in the evaluation process, the Contractor shall be accessible to students and DDE Government employees by e-mail and by phone during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time.

5.2.5 The student submissions and data folders are subject to the Privacy Act of 1974. Control of the electronic data/folders requires the Contractor to safeguard all passwords or communications and any data that the Contractor may download as part of the student evaluation process. The Contractor is personally responsible for ensuring that student Privacy Act information is appropriately safeguarded when accessing the current DEP LMS from any location – on site or away from the U.S. Army War College.

5.3 Forums. The asynchronous online forum in the DEP simulates the face-to-face discussions held in a seminar room during a resident course. This discourse is a critical part of the adult learning model where students face the challenge of submitting their ideas for critical seminar group appraisal and discussion.

5.3.1 During each Core Course, the Contractor shall conduct and evaluate threaded discussions in one or more asynchronous online forums for each assigned seminar using the forum function within the DEP LCMS. Core Course forums are generally active ten to fifteen days, not to exceed fifty cumulative days for all four Core Courses. Forum discussions are asynchronous but may include synchronous online sessions using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) software. The Contractor shall prepare his/her seminar(s) to conduct the forum by appropriately dividing the students into teams, assigning team leaders, and issuing guidance to team leaders and all students regarding the conduct and objectives of the forum, as directed by the Course Director.

5.3.2 Core Course forums evaluate student achievement of course learning objectives through dialogue. This dialogue generally takes two forms. First, students individually post answers in response to a question provided by the Course Director and initiated by the Contractor, then post subsequent replies to other students’ entries. The Contractor guides the discussion to ensure that all aspects of a question are addressed to achieve the learning objectives. Second, students may assume roles within a notional group and collaborate to produce team products assigned by the CD, ranging from a policy statement to a prioritized list of capabilities to a deliberate plan. The Contractor answers student questions, helps guide the work schedule and provides corrections and insights to ensure that students achieve the learning objectives.

5.3.3 Student posts must reflect graduate-level thought and conform to the same writing standards in the U.S. Army War College Communicative Arts Directive that are applied to course papers; this includes citing the source of material that informs a comment, even if from a fellow student. Typical initial posts may consist of 250 words with response posts of 150 words.

5.3.4 During the faculty training session listed in paragraph 5.1.1.2, the CD will specify the learning objectives, timing, format, questions to be addressed and an evaluation rubric for each forum. The Contractor shall exercise judgment to accomplish the faculty instructor tasks stated in paragraph 5.3.2. During each day of the forum, the Contractor shall enter the forum software and read all new student posts; personalize material provided by the CD then post it to guide that day’s discussion; provide periodic posts throughout the day, as needed, to ensure student discussion is achieving the learning objective; and provide a summary of the day’s dialogue to include alternative opinions on certain points, lessons learned and instructions needed for the next stage of the discussion.

5.3.5 The Contractor shall evaluate student performance toward achieving course learning objectives throughout the conduct of the forum. The Contractor shall enter an evaluation of each student’s performance into the DEP LMS following the completion of the forum by the due date in paragraph 7.0. If a student’s work in the forum is unsatisfactory in either frequency or content, the Contractor shall provide a clear, legible and detailed analysis explaining why and how the student did not meet the standard. The Contractor shall make personal notification by telephone or email to any student who fails to meet the standard then assign and evaluate an alternate requirement provided by the Course Director.

5.4 First Resident Course. The Contractor shall provide in-residence instruction and facilitation to one seminar according to curriculum requirements of the U.S. Army War College DEP during the First Resident Course. Each seminar will consist of approximately eighteen DEP students.

5.4.1 The Contractor shall prepare for the First Resident Course by reviewing and applying instructional material provided by DDE. The Contractor will attend a faculty development and training meeting (lasting up to eight hours) prior to and an after-action review meeting (lasting up to three hours) following the First Resident Course.

5.4.2 The First Resident Course involves approximately eight hours of facilitation during each of nine days of seminar instruction. The Contractor shall also lead up to two sequential small-group visits during the approximately eighteen-hour trip to Washington, DC.

5.4.3 The Contractor shall review course materials and conduct sufficient outside professional study to be able to effectively conduct graduate-level, inquiry-driven seminar learning. The Contractor must be knowledgeable in concepts of adult learning, Bloom’s taxonomy, seminar discourse, seminar team building and reflective learning.

5.4.4 The Contractor shall participate in seminar social activities lasting up to eight cumulative hours during the First Resident Course beyond the requirements in paragraph 5.4.2.

5.4.5 The Contractor shall evaluate each student on his/her oral presentations during the First Resident Course. This evaluation will address content, organization, and delivery according to criteria in the U.S. Army War College Communicative Arts Directive amplified by the Course Director. The Contractor shall enter this evaluation into the DEP LMS by the due date in paragraph 7.0.

5.4.6 The Contractor shall evaluate each student on his/her individual seminar participation and overall performance during the First Resident Course, applying guidance from the Director, FRC and Year Group Director. The Contractor shall enter this evaluation into the DEP LMS by the due date in paragraph 7.0.

5.5 Second Resident Course. The Contractor shall provide in-residence instruction and facilitation to one seminar according to curriculum requirements of the U.S. Army War College DEP during the Second Resident Course. Each seminar will consist of approximately eighteen DEP students who will be joined for several days by approximately three invited civilian guests under the Commandant’s National Security Program (CNSP).

5.5.1 The Contractor shall prepare for the Second Resident Course by reviewing and applying instructional material provided by DDE. The Contractor shall attend a faculty development and training meeting (lasting up to eight hours) prior to and an after-action review meeting (lasting up to three hours) after the Second Resident Course.

5.5.2 The Second Resident Course requires the Contractor to perform eight days of seminar facilitation, accompany his/her seminar during the approximately ten-hour battlefield staff ride to Gettysburg on one day, and attend the graduation ceremony lasting one half-day followed by the faculty course after-action review meeting. Four of the eight days require approximately eight hours of seminar facilitation while the remaining four days involve approximately five hours of seminar facilitation due to a separate three-hour Graduate Seminar conducted on each of those days.

5.5.3 The Contractor shall review course materials and conduct sufficient outside professional study to be able to effectively conduct graduate-level, inquiry-driven seminar learning.