Amendment_Two_W91QF016T0008.pdf

Q.1 ) With regards to 4.2.4, do you have COR quarterly reports and can they be used as supporting evidence? What about DDE/AWC survey comments?

A.1) COR quarterly reports will not be used as this is an internal document, but may be used as part of the Governments check on past performance. The supporting evidence could be in the nature of student surveys, endorsements by previous students, supervisors, Deans or Provosts of past academic institutions.

Q.2) With regards to CLIN 12, 5.11, what is the intent for the faculty training? Is this for all contractors

(new and old) to update them on new technology, organization, etc?

A.2) Faculty training of 6 four hour segments in the base year is for contractors to get initial, as well as refresher training if needed. Generally new contractors will require some training on DDE systems.

The 2 four hour training segments in the option years allows for training on system updates or new systems implemented along with training on distance learning and teaching pedagogy, new online tools and strategies, evaluations, collaboration, and the like.

Q.3) I am requesting clarification on the period of performance on page 8 of the solicitation that currently reads as follows:

Base Year: 15 July 2016 - 14 July 2017

Option Year I: 15 July 2017 - 14 July 2018

Option Year II: 15 July 2018 - 14 July 2019

As currently stated, the period of performance ends each year prior to the end of the Second Resident

Course. As an example, this year graduation is on 22 July, a full week beyond the period of performance in this solicitation.

A.3) The period of performance will remain as stated. DDE will address this if it is an issue in the option year two of the contract.

Q.4) For the Faculty Instructor, would you know if the training could be gained through online completely? (or at local military facility?)

"5.11 Faculty Training. During the base year of the contract, the Contractor shall participate in up to 24 hours, as applicable, of faculty training provided by DDE (Department of Distance Education.) This training will consist of six 4-hour periods of training and certification and is intended to familiarize the

Contractor with the organization of DDE; the Adult Learning Model for Distance Education; the Army

War College’s Learning Management System and other applicable software used in communicating with students and evaluating student work; and the specific business practices of the applicable year group directorate within the department. This training may be fulfilled by a combination of resident and distance instruction methodologies."

A.4) Training is necessary to get the contractor up to speed on Blackboard and OASIS. Depending on his/her experience with Blackboard and OASIS, that training could be conducted online.

Q.5) Page 8, paragraph 1.6.4; page 12, paragraph 2.1.13; page 17, paragraph 5.2.1.4 – The specification of the third reference seems to contradict the first two. In the first, the hours of operation are defined as

0800-1630 ET, the second specifies the work week as Monday-Friday, but the third reference specifies that the contractor be available seven days per week in order to respond to student messages within 24 hours of receipt. It’s possible that a student might send a message on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Using the first two references, this message wouldn’t be answered until Monday, however such a response would violate the third reference. Please reconcile this contradiction.

A.5) Page 8, paragraph 1.6.4, stands as stated. Page 12, paragraph 2.1.13, states “unless specified otherwise.” Page 17, paragraph 5.2.1.4 has changed to “The Contractor shall return student telephone calls and e-mails by the end of the next business day of receipt.”

Q.6) Page 14, paragraph 4.2.4 – In what manner do you expect an instructor to prove excellence? Are student evaluations, peer reviews, OPRs, listing of publications, letters of recommendation, student evaluations, or awards acceptable? Would a list of contact data for USAWC faculty instructors who recommend the nominee be sufficient?

A.6) See response to Q.1 / A.1.

Q.7) Page 16, paragraph 5.2 – The title of this CLIN seems misleading. Based on the description of tasks, might this more accurately be entitled Written Requirement Evaluation?

A.7) No change to the CLIN title.

Q.8) Page 17, paragraph 5.3.6 – How many students on academic probation should the contractor anticipate mentoring? This is important as probationary students can take up an inordinate amount of time, and this time must be accounted for in the bid. Perhaps there could be upper limit of academic probation students to be mentored, as there are for Personal Research Papers overseen in Second Year bids?

A.8) Contractors are not required to mentor those students who are on probation. The words

“academic probation” are not used in paragraph 5.3.6. Contractors mentor students who have failed to meet standards on a previous written requirement. For example, a student receives a “2” (fails to meet standards) on the DE2301 essay. That student should be mentored to improve his/her DE2302 essay.

The contractor should anticipate possibly mentoring six students. It is not mandatory for the students to participate in the mentoring program.

Q.9) Page 25, paragraph 6.1.2, subparagraph d – Specifically mentions the Second Year Studies Schedule, as a document the contractor must follow. Should this read First Year Studies Schedule?

A.9) (Solicitation updated) It should be First Year Studies Schedule.

Q.10) Page 25, paragraph 7.1.1 – What does 97% look like? What does it mean and how is it measured?

This same question applies to other subparagraphs where the standard is less than 100%.

A. 10) (Solicitation updated) Measurements have been changed to 100% for all.