PWS DDE 1st Year Instructor 21-26 Track Changes.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

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

DEPARTMENT OF DISTANCE EDUCATION, FIRST YEAR STUDIES

FACULTY INSTRUCTOR SERVICES

General:

1.1. Description of Services/Introduction: This Performance Work Statement (PWS) identifies the minimum requirements to serve as a Faculty Instructor and Evaluator for the Distance Education Program (DEP) in the First Year Studies Program, Department of Distance Education (DDE), United States Army War College (USAWC). This work encompasses an online and resident Orientation Program, four online Core Courses (each consisting of at least one online forum and at least one written requirement), two summer Resident Courses with associated programs, and includes the evaluation of student performance in online discussion forums, appropriate Experiential Activities, essay/exam requirements and during resident seminar discussion. This work is specific to the distance education courses listed in the contract line item schedule. The Contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2. Background:

1.2.1. The USAWC DDE is a blended online and resident Senior Service College spanning two academic years, running from May through the following June during the first year and June through July of 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 individual verbal presentations (note: FlipGrid, oral presentations), 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 USAWC’s Learning Management System (LMS) currently consists of two distinct systems. Blackboard® performs the functions of a Content Management System (CMS) and Compass serves as a Student Information System (SIS). As a CMS, Blackboard® delivers course content to students and hosts asynchronous discussion forums to assess student learning. Blackboard® Collaborate™ allows synchronous discussions and real-time interactions between facility and students. As an SIS, Compass 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 DEP seminar(s) in the First Year Studies Program, DDE, School of Strategic Landpower (SSL), USAWC. The work encompasses an online and resident Orientation Program, 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 also includes the development, instruction, and evaluation of a Regional Studies Assessment. 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 for one Base Year of 12 months and four Option Years of 12 months each.

1.6. General Information:

1.6.1. Quality Control: The Contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control plan (QCP) 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 QCP is the means by which he/she assures himself/herself that his/her work complies with the requirement of the contract. The QCP shall be delivered to the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) within 30 days after contract award. Three copies of a comprehensive written QCP shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer (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/her 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 (QASP). This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, 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:

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 Standard Time) except Federal legal 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 at all times maintain 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 to be performed under this contract will be performed at:

a. USAWC, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

b. Another location from which the Contractor can perform all aspects of this Contract. Virtual synchronous attendance of training and meetings are to be considered ‘attended’ unless otherwise noted.

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, but are required to receive a favorable background check to acquire a CAC.

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 KO, 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 KO, COR, and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings, the KO 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: 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 notify both the KO 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. Contractor shall limit Key Personnel to two (2) instructors per contract. See FAR Clause 5152.204-4001.

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. 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.

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

1.6.12.3. Utilizing Electronic Mail: When contractor personnel send e-mail messages to Government personnel while performing on this contract, the contractor’s e-mail address shall indicate that the sender is a contractor (CTR).

1.6.13. CONDUCT OF EMPLOYEES: The contractor is fully responsible for the performance and conduct of his/her employees at all times while on a military installation 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. Further, neither the contractor nor his or her employees shall engage in any public or private behavior or activity that would bring discredit to the USAWC. 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.

Definitions and Acronyms:

1.7. Definitions:

1.7.1. 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.

1.7.2. 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.

1.7.3. Contracting Officer's Representative. 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.

1.7.4. Defective Service. Any teaching or service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the PWS.

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

1.7.6. Key Personnel. Contractor personnel who are evaluated in a source selection process and who may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the individuals 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 who are listed in the proposal.

1.7.7. Physical Security. Actions that prevent the loss or damage of Government property.

1.7.8. Quality Assurance. The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the Contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

1.7.9. Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of contractor performance.

1.7.10. Quality Control. All necessary measures taken by the Contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

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

1.7.12. Work Day. The number of hours per day the Contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

1.7.13. Work Week. Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.

1.8. Acronyms:

Government Furnished Items and Services:

The Contractor shall be directly responsible and accountable for all Government property in his/her possession. The Contractor shall sign for receipt of all Government property. The Contractor shall ensure that all maintenance and upkeep actions are met (such as making sure the device is connected to the USAWC LAN at least once each month. The Contractor shall return all Government property in its original condition at the end of the contract period of performance.

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.

1.9. Services:

1.9.1. Provide access to, maintain, and operate the DEP LMS.

1.9.2. Provide a user account on the USAWC Local Area Network (LAN). This account will include an e-mail address and access to the DEP LMS.

1.9.3. Provide a Microsoft Office 365 account with an armywarcollege.edu email address and access to the .edu educational domain.

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

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

1.10. Facilities.

1.10.1. Provide access to computer terminals on the USAWC LAN in common-user study carrels in the USAWC Library, or in DDE spaces, as available. The Government will not issue a computer as GFE to the Contractor.

1.10.2. Telephone services at the USAWC, only for direct support of this contract.

1.11. 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.

1.12. Equipment: Access to equipment useful in direct support of this contract (i.e., scanners, fax machines, printers, copiers).

1.13. Materials:

1.13.1. Provide course references in electronic or paper form.

1.13.2. Issue a Common Access Card (CAC), as needed in accordance with paragraph 4.2.9.

Contractor Qualifications:

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. During execution of this contract, if an individual who is actually performing work in accordance with the contract needs to be excused from work, individuals chosen to actually perform work on this contract must present commensurate qualifications as the individuals presented at the time of the award.

4.1 General: All faculty instructors of this contract shall meet the Contractor Qualifications defined below. Contractor may provide up to two (2) Faculty Instructors to share the responsibilities of this contract. If two Faculty Instructors are submitted, the evaluation of the submission will be based on the lowest qualified of the two in each category.

1.13.3. A Senior Level College education from a Senior Service College, or a Department of Defense accredited Senior Service College Distance Education Program. The highly qualified candidate will possess a Joint Professional Military Education Phase II qualification; the highest qualified candidate will be a Fully Joint Qualified officer (JQO).

1.13.4. A master’s degree from an accredited graduate degree granting institution in a discipline relevant to a major field of study within the U. S. Army War College as found below.

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, Military, and Economics)

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 (Africa, Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Greater Middle East, or Russia/Eurasia) The highly qualified candidate will have multiple Master’s degrees from accredited graduate degree granting institutions in disciples relevant to a major field of study within the USAWC as found above or other teaching experience, teaching awards, teaching citations, service awards and/or academic promotion. In addition to the foregoing, the highest qualified candidate will have a PhD in a national security related discipline, as cited above, multiple years of teaching experience at a Senior Service College, or other accredited, degree-granting institution of higher learning.

1.13.5. One year of experience 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 4.1.2. The highly qualified candidate will have three (3) years’ experience. The highest qualified candidate will have five (5) or more years’ experience. At least one (1) year of the experience must have occurred within the last three (3) years as reflected on a curriculum vitae, professional resume, and/or similar documents.

1.13.6. Relevant skills/expertise in basic computer skills to include, but not limited to, Microsoft Office (i.e. Word, Outlook, Power Point, SharePoint Portal), Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, basic writing and editing skills, search/create folders, computer terminology, troubleshooting login and connectivity issues. Able to perform word processing and data entry associated with evaluating and electronically annotating submissions and recording correspondence and conversations in the LMS database.

1.13.7. Experience in the use of a Content Management System (CMS) recognized in the academic community; see paragraph 2.3. Examples include, but are not limited to, the current version of the USAWC Compass or Blackboard.

1.13.8. Experienced 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 USAWC Compass, Microsoft Teams, Desire2Learn, Blackboard, Blackboard Ultra, or Moodle™.

1.13.9. Experienced (or able to be trained on site) in the use of visual and automation technology in the individual seminar rooms at Carlisle Barracks (at no additional cost to the government).

1.13.10. 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 2 OCT 2018).

1.13.11. Experienced (or able to be trained on site) in the use of visual and automation technology in the individual seminar rooms at Carlisle Barracks (at no additional cost to the government).

1.13.12. (Required only if quoting for the Battlefield Staff Guide CLIN) Requires General American Civil War history for context; specific knowledge of the battles 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 USAWC students to events that occurred on the respective battlefield.

Specific Tasks:

Basic Services. The Contractor shall provide services for:

1.14. Orientation Program. Contractor shall provide instruction, assessment, and guidance to USAWC DEP students during an online and resident Orientation Program (DE2300).

1.14.1. Serve as a point of contact for students working on the DE2300 biography, assigned forum, and written evaluation requirements.

1.14.2. Serve as a seminar instructor during resident orientation session.

1.14.3. The Contractor shall attend a faculty development and training meeting lasting up to three hours.

1.14.4. During the resident portion of the Orientation Program, the Contractor faculty shall prepare for seminar instruction and provide instruction for up to 30 students over two days of one weekend.

1.14.5. The Contractor shall evaluate one 500-word written requirement, one 500-word online forum entry, and one biography for approximately 60 DEP students and identify those students most in need of writing assistance.

1.14.6. The DDE will administer and students will submit the 500-word written requirement in May or June of each year. The essays will be provided in Microsoft Word using the USAWC submission and business practices. Contractors shall evaluate papers using the Microsoft Word® review, editing, and comment functions, providing comments and evaluation directly into the papers. The Course Director will provide specific instructions to the Contractor at a meeting prior to the evaluation period.

1.14.7. The Contractor shall score the essays and forum entries in a consistent manner with the above training, following the evaluation protocol and applying rules of grammar, style, and content as outlined in USAWC DEP instructions and the DDE Effective Communications Directive or its equivalent. The scores will be based upon a 1-5 scale, with 5-outstanding and 1-failed to meet standards.

1.14.8. All evaluations shall be compiled and entered into the DEP LMS, not later than 30 June of the appropriate year.

1.14.9. The provisions of 5.3.1-5 apply to DE2300 paper and forum assessments.

1.14.10. The Contractor shall identify the students most in need of improvement to the COR and the First Year Studies Director. The Contractor shall contact and discuss the evaluation with all students who fail to meet minimum standards and highly encourage these students to complete a DDE provided online remedial writing lab or other writing remediation as determined by the contractor’s assessment of the student’s needs.

1.15. Core Courses. During each academic year, the Contractor shall instruct, evaluate, monitor academic progress, and advise USAWC DEP students (to include military, government civilians, and international fellows) during the four online Core Courses. In each Core Course, the Contractor must provide faculty comments evaluating and assessing each student’s performance on the written requirement and for the overall course evaluation for up to 50 students. The Contractor shall enter these evaluation comments within the appropriate fields in the DEP LMS by the due dates. In addition, the Contractor shall instruct, evaluate, and advise up to 30 USAWC DEP students assigned to their respective seminar during the four online Core Courses.

1.15.1. Faculty Preparation, Monitoring 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, tasks and evaluation requirements.

1.15.1.1. USAWC 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.

1.15.1.2. For each Core Course, the Contractor shall attend, and participate in, a faculty development and training meeting lasting up to three hours that is conducted by the Course Director. These meetings usually occur 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 5.8.

1.15.1.3. The Contractor shall communicate with and advise the students assigned to their respective seminar on administrative and academic issues throughout the entire academic year. The Contractor shall notify the Year Group Director regarding potential student academic problems or unusual student personal or professional situations that may affect the student’s performance in the DEP.

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

1.16. Evaluating Written Requirements. During each Core Course, the Contractor shall evaluate/re-evaluate written requirements (papers) submitted/resubmitted by up to 50 students from the year group cohort.

1.16.1. The DDE Effective Communications Directive publishes evaluation standards, which may be amplified by the respective Course Director and the Year Group Director. The Contractor shall provide commentary and assessment using the review function in Microsoft Word® directly into each student’s paper. The Contractor shall further provide formal assessment with amplifying commentary in the appropriate DEP LMS fields. Requirements submitted online shall be evaluated online.

1.16.2. 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 USAWC curricular 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.

1.16.3. 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.

1.16.4. The Contractor shall complete evaluations of student submissions and resubmissions in the DEP LMS by the due dates. The Contractor must provide faculty comments on every paper at the point under discussion and summary comments within the LMS fields for the individual requirement and the overall course. 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 Standard Time.

1.16.5. 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 USAWC.

1.16.6. In addition to instruction and evaluation, the Contractor shall mentor/advise students within their seminar who are identified by the First Year Director as needing assistance. Mentoring includes providing general guidance and supplemental assistance to students in organizing and preparing their written course requirements prior to submission. Mentoring will emphasize helping students with the basic organization and logical analysis of their papers for subsequent courses. Consequently, Contractor shall provide feedback on the content, style, and organization of student responses. In doing so, Contractor may review and comment on draft outlines to include an introductory and concluding paragraph, but will not review draft papers. For questions on the substance of course content, Contractor shall refer students to the Course Director. The Contractor shall record substantive communications with a student into the DEP LMS. The Contractor shall notify the Year Group Director regarding students with potential academic problems or unusual personal or professional situations that may affect their DEP performance. Once a student formerly submits their paper in the DEP LMS, the student will then work directly with the assigned faculty evaluator.

1.17. Conducting Formative Assessments (Optional Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) - Contractor must provide quote. Government will exercise option as required for mission accomplishment). During three Core Courses, the Contractor shall conduct no more than one formative assessment of a written or oral requirement for approximately 30 students in their assigned seminar. In accordance with USAWC Policy Memorandum 623-1 (Student Assessment) dated 31 July 2020, formative feedback allows students to gauge their understanding of new material as well as learn and practice new skills without being graded.

1.17.1. Course directors will determine the nature of the formative event (written or oral) for their respective course. Written requirements will consist of an outline. Oral presentations will not exceed a 5-minute presentation per student. For each formative event, Contractors provide specific guidance and supplemental assistance to all students in their seminar, but are not included in the student's course grade. Formative assessments will emphasize the basic organization and logical analysis of their written products or oral presentations for subsequent courses. This does not preclude the course directors from including a non-graded, formative requirement in lieu of one of the written essays in their course.

1.17.2. Course directors will determine the evaluation standards and the method by which feedback will be delivered to students for each formative event. For written assignments, the Contractor shall provide feedback on the organization, content, and style of student responses. The Contractor will provide each student a formative assessment on draft outlines that include an introduction and conclusion, and an assertion and bullet comments for the main body paragraphs. The Contractor shall provide commentary and assessment using the review function in Microsoft Word(r) directly into each student's paper. For oral requirements, the Contractor shall provide feedback on the content, delivery, and organization of student responses. The Contractor shall provide written feedback on oral requirements using a Microsoft Word(r) document.

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

1.18.1. During each Core Course, the Contractor shall conduct and evaluate threaded discussions or role playing simulations in one or more asynchronous online forums for their assigned seminar using the DEP LMS forum software tool. Core Course forums are generally active ten to fifteen days, not to exceed fifty cumulative days for all four Core Courses. Forums are asynchronous but may include synchronous online sessions using the Blackboard Collaborate 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. The Contractor shall make personal contact with all assigned students by telephone or email to provide an introduction for each of the Core Course forums. The CD will provide a draft introduction to facilitate this action. The Contractor shall also identify the few exceptions of students who cannot participate in the forum to the Course Director and Education Technicians in accordance with the CD’s instructions. The Education Technicians will then assign these students an alternate written evaluation requirement.

1.18.2. Core Course forums evaluate student achievement of course learning objectives through dialogue and collaboration. 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. These discussions may be written or potentially via video/audio recording and presentation. Second, students may assume roles within a notional group and collaborate to produce team and/or individual 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.

1.18.3. Student posts and work must reflect graduate-level thought and conform to the same writing standards in the DDE Effective Communications 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. As technology and modalities advance, forums may require video/audio recorded entries and dialog using various products, i.e.; Blackboard, Flip Grid, smart phones, cloud sites, etc. The Effective Communications Directive standards for communications of all types will apply.

1.18.4. During the faculty training session listed in paragraph 5.2.1.2, 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.

1.18.5. 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.

1.18.6. 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 dates. 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 and to inform the student that they must complete the alternate written evaluation provided by the Course Director. The Faculty Instructor (FI) will assign the alternate written evaluation to the students who fail to meet the standard or do not participate in the forums. Contractors shall evaluate these alternate evaluations in accordance with 5.3.1-5.

1.19. First Resident Course (FRC). The Contractor shall provide in-residence instruction and facilitation to one seminar according to curriculum requirements of the USAWC DEP during the First Resident Course. Each seminar will consist of approximately eighteen DEP students.

1.19.1. The Contractor shall prepare for the First 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) following the First Resident Course.

1.19.2. The First Resident Course involves approximately eight hours of facilitation during each of eight days of seminar instruction. The Contractor shall accompany his/her seminar during the approximately ten-hour battlefield staff ride to Antietam, Sharpsburg, VA on one day. The Contractor shall also lead up to two (2) sequential small- group visits during the approximately sixteen-hour trip to Washington, DC.

1.19.3. 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.

1.19.4. The Contractor shall participate in seminar social activities lasting up to eight cumulative hours during the First Resident Course beyond the requirements in paragraph 5.5.2.

1.19.5. 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 DDE Effective Communications Directive), amplified by the Course Director. The Contractor shall enter this evaluation into the DEP LMS by the due date listed in the Technical Exhibit section of this PWS.

1.19.6. 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 dates.

1.20. Second Resident Course (SRC). The Contractor shall provide in-residence instruction and facilitation to one seminar according to curriculum requirements of the USAWC 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).

1.20.1. The Contractor shall prepare for the SRC 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 SRC.

1.20.2. The SRC 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.

1.20.3. 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.

1.20.4. The Contractor shall participate in seminar social activities with students and invited CNSP guests lasting up to eight cumulative hours during the SRC beyond the requirements in paragraph 5.6.2.

1.20.5. The Contractor shall evaluate each student on his/her individual seminar participation and overall performance during the SRC, applying guidance from the Director, SRC, and Year Group Director. The Contractor shall enter this evaluation into the DEP LMS by the due dates.

1.20.6. The Contractor shall also prepare an Academic Evaluation Report (AER) covering each student’s performance during the entire two-year Distance Education Program. This AER will be completed to address evaluative criteria determined by the US Army, USAWC, and the DDE. A categorical quantitative assessment of each student for both First and Second Year Programs is provided via the DEP LMS. The Contractor shall counsel each student regarding this AER, which will be forwarded to each student’s parent organization or service component. The AER format will be the most current version of the student’s service, agency, or department. The Dean of the SSL within the USAWC and/or Chairman, DDE, will publish a memorandum of instruction before SRC that specifies format, timing and procedures for completion of AERs for all military personnel, government civilians and international fellows

1.21. Course Development – Global and Regional Issues and Interests (Optional CLIN - Contractor must provide quote. Government will exercise option as required for mission accomplishment).

1.21.1. Contractor shall assist the DE2304 Course Director with the preparation of Global and Regional Issues and Interests course lesson plans for Block 1. This includes researching, developing, formatting, and initial editing of up to four lessons to meet designated course objectives and guidance of the Course Director. Articles and lesson commentary should be updated, as necessary, each year to reflect major changes in the regional or transnational issues, or in the relevant literature.