PWS USAWC Editing and Proofreading Support_Track Changes.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

U.S. Army War College Editing, Proofreading, and Multimedia Support

GENERAL

Description of Services/Introduction:

This is a non-personnel services contract to support publication and distribution of U.S. Army War College (USAWC) research, reports, and multimedia products. This contract addresses the publication and multimedia requirements of the Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) and USAWC Press and the Center for Strategic Leadership (CSL), both located at Carlisle Barracks, PA.

The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, software, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform editing, proofreading, and multimedia support as defined in this Performance Work Statement. The contractor shall perform to the standards outlined in this contract.

Background:

The SSI and the USAWC Press are part of the USAWC and are the U.S. Army's strategic research, publishing, and external communications institutes for the analysis and publication of national security policy and regional and defense strategy. The primary mission of SSI and USAWC Press is to prepare and publish academic analysis for the U.S. Army War College, the leadership of the U.S. Army and Department of Defense, and to serve as a bridge to the broader national security scholarly communities. SSI and USAWC Press publish and distribute manuscripts resulting from its analysis to strategic leaders in the Army, the Department of Defense, the military educational system, Congress, the media, other think tanks and defense institutes, and major colleges and universities. SSI researchers and the USAWC Press use historical and current political, economic, informational, and military studies to develop strategic analyses and recommendations. These analyses and recommendations are disseminated and archived for current and future audiences. To fulfill this mission, SSI and USAWC Press publish an average of 60–100 products a year; ranging from 4-page articles and web essays to 40–100 page monographs and book-length manuscripts of 250–800 pages. The Press also publishes four (quarterly) editions of the War College’s scholarly journal, averaging 160 pages per volume. In addition to its print and electronic manuscripts, the Press furthers the influence and distribution of USAWC scholarship through multimedia works, to include recorded author interviews, podcasts, and video presentations.

The Center for Strategic Leadership is part of the USAWC and is the Army’s premier center for experiential education, with special emphasis on senior leader education, support to Army senior leader directed research and experimentation, and support to USAWC, Army, and Joint force senior leader strategic communication efforts. CSL hosts, supports, develops, and conducts world-class events (workshops, symposia, conferences, games, and exercises), focusing on a broad range of strategic leadership and national security topics and concepts in support of the USAWC, the Army, and the Interagency and Joint communities. To fulfill this mission, CSL publishes the results of its analytical and technical research and experiments through an average of 20-30 products a year; ranging from 4-page articles, web essays, and quarterly newsletters to 40-100 page monographs and experimentation reports and book-length manuscripts of 150-300 pages. CSL primarily formats and presents its products based on the specific needs of external clients.

Objectives: The basic service objectives are to provide support to the publication missions of SSI and the USAWC Press and CSL. The contractor will provide editorial and multimedia services to enable the USAWC Press and CSL to publish and disseminate, in the most cost-effective manner, a wide range of high-quality, well-written, highly specialized, and peer-reviewed strategic analysis and research, and supporting multimedia products, that focus on national security issues and provide a forum for broad dialogue within the senior defense leadership community and with leading scholars in government, business, academia, and the media.

Scope: The U.S. Army War College, through SSI and the USAWC Press and CSL, will be proactive in its research and publication program, as well as its strategic communications functions, as mandated by the Chief of Staff of the Army in the USAWC Terms of Reference (dtd 13 June 2014) and Army Regulation 10-87, Army Command, Army Service Component Commands, and Direct Reporting Units (dtd 11 December 2017) to compete successfully in the strategic marketplace of ideas, analyses, and planning. Therefore, the USAWC Press and CSL must be able to edit and expeditiously publish articles and short monographs, as well as book-length manuscripts and professional journals (i.e. Parameters) addressing national security topics. This requires editing, proofreading, and multimedia support. See paragraph 4 for detailed tasks and deliverables.

Period of Performance: The period of performance shall be for one (1) Base Year of 12 months and four (4) 12-month option years.

Hours of Operation: The contractor shall be responsible for providing direct support between the hours of 7:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings. The contractor must always 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.

Federal Government Holidays: The contractor is not required to perform on Federal Government Holidays.

Independence Day

Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract shall be performed at the contractor’s site.

Quality: Quality Control is the responsibility of the contractor. The contractor is responsible for the delivery of quality services/supplies to the Government (see FAR 52.246-1, Contractor Inspection Requirements). The Quality Control Plan (QCP) should be submitted separately and will not be evaluated as part of the contractor’s quotation. The contractor shall develop, implement, and maintain an effective Quality Control System that includes a written QCP. The QCP shall implement standardized procedure/methodology for monitoring and documenting contract performance to ensure all contract requirements are met. The contractors’ QCP must contain a systematic approach to monitor operations to ensure acceptable services/products are provided to the Government. The QCP, as a minimum, shall address continuous process improvement; procedures for scheduling, conducting, and documentation of inspection; discrepancy identification and correction; corrective action procedures to include procedures for addressing Government discovered non-conformances; procedures for root cause analysis to identify the root cause and root cause corrective action to prevent re-occurrence of discrepancies; procedures for trend analysis; procedures for collecting and addressing customer feedback/complaints. The contractor shall upon request provide to the Government their quality control documentation. The QCP will be submitted with the contractor’s quotation. After acceptance of the quality control plan, the contractor shall receive the Contracting Officer’s acceptance in writing of any proposed change to their QC system.

Quality Assurance: The Government shall evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). This plan is a Government only document primarily focused on what the Government must do to assure that the contractor has performed in accordance with the requirements of the contract.

Contracting Officer Representative (COR): 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.

Personnel Qualifications and Experience: The contractor shall be required to demonstrate the personnel qualifications and experience necessary to accomplish the required tasks through detailed resumes.

Resumes will verify baccalaureate degrees in the disciplines of: English, English language, English literature, information technology, composition and writing studies, rhetoric, education, communications, journalism, public relations, applied communications, media studies, publishing, or equivalent degrees awarded by accredited colleges/universities.

Resumes must also demonstrate a minimum of 5 years of relevant editing and publishing experience, to include:

· Composition, technical, and written communication evaluation skills

· Copy editing related to electronic publishing

· Evaluation and editing reports, manuscripts, journals, and technical reports

· Proficiency in proofreading copy

· Expertise in multimedia editing and production of audio and video presentations

· The proficiency in the use of the Adobe Acrobat Pro program

· Knowledge and understanding of Army and Joint strategic issues; national security issues; regional issues as they affect U.S. Army missions

Supervision of Contractor Employees: The Government will not exercise any supervision or control over contractor or subcontractor employees while performing work under the contract. Such employees shall be accountable solely to the contractor, not the Government. The contractor, in turn, shall be accountable to the Government for contractor or subcontractor employees.

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 under DFARS 252.227-7015, Technical Data – Commercial Items.

Organizational Conflict of Interest: Contractor and subcontractor personnel performing work under this contract may receive, have access to, or participate in the development of proprietary or source selection information (e.g., cost or pricing information, budget information or analyses, specifications or work statements, etc.) or perform evaluation services which may create a current or subsequent Organizational Conflict of Interests (OCI) as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5. The contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer immediately whenever it becomes aware that such access or participation may result in any actual or potential OCI and shall promptly submit a plan to the Contracting Officer to avoid or mitigate any such OCI. The contractor’s mitigation plan will be determined to be acceptable solely at the discretion of the Contracting Officer and in the event the Contracting Officer unilaterally determines that any such OCI cannot be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, the Contracting Officer may implement other remedies as he or she deems necessary, including prohibiting the contractor from participation in subsequent contracted requirements which may be affected by the OCI.

DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS:

Definitions:

ASSESSING OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE- A government employee who has overall responsibility for contracting or execution of the program or project for which performance is being evaluated in the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). Generally the Contracting Officer.

ASSESSING OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE- A government employee who will be assisting in preparation of the Past Performance Evaluation into CPARS. Generally the Contracting Officer Representative.

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

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.

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.

CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIVE- A contractor employee that has been designated to provide comments on the evaluation. It is recommended that the Contractor Representative be someone who is very familiar with contract performance on a day to day basis. The Contractor Representative may provide comments on the evaluation and may indicate if they concur or do not concur with the ratings and narratives.

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

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

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY (GFP) OR GOVERNMENT PROPERTY (GP) - Property in the possession of, or directly acquired by, the Government and subsequently made available to the contractor.

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, a quote can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the quotation.

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

QUALITY ASSURANCE- The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the contractor are acceptable in accordance with established standards and requirements of this contract.

QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP) - An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of contractor performance.

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

REVIEWING OFFICIAL- a government employee who is at least one level above the Assessing Official and who will review all CPARS evaluations. In the event that a Contractor Representative does not concur with the evaluation, the Reviewing Official provides an independent review of the evaluation.

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

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

WORK WEEK- Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays unless specified otherwise.

Acronyms:

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

Services: In general, the Government will not provide Common Access Cards (CAC) to the contractor. However, select publication projects, as determined by the USAWC Press Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or CSL Representative, may require the contractor to obtain CAC access to Government IT systems in order to complete work described in this PWS. The COR will provide the contractor ample notice of any requirements that require obtaining CAC access.

Government-Furnished Information (GFI): The contractor shall be provided access to the government publications that are being actively worked by the Managing Editor.

The contractor shall furnish all personnel, equipment, software, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Section 3 of this PWS.

BASIC SERVICES:

0. The contractor shall provide services for editing, proofreading, and multimedia publication as follows: (Service requirements for SSI and the USAWC Press and CSL are outlined separately in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 respectively.)

Task Requirements in Support of SSI and the USAWC Press: Each USAWC Press written project will require 3 separate stages of editing: initial formatting/fact-check, copy edit, and final proofreading. Additionally, select USAWC Press publications will be supplemented with multimedia products, such as recorded interviews, podcasts, and videos. Specific tasks and responsibilities of the USAWC Press and the contractor are outlined below:

Editing and Proofreading: For written products, the Managing Editor will email the initial manuscript to the contractor in Word format. The page count for the project and subsequent billing is determined by the total number of pages of the manuscript, inclusive of the front and back covers and front and back matter. The Managing Editor will assign a specific identification number for each project, i.e. CY-22-001, for the first project completed under this contract. Subsequent projects will be numbered CY-22-002, CY-22-003, and so on until the end of the calendar year.

The contractor will perform the initial edit of the manuscript using the “Review” and “Comment” feature of the Word program and the “Comment” feature of the Adobe Acrobat Pro software. Once complete, the contractor will email the edited and annotated manuscript to the Managing Editor for review and correction.

The Managing Editor will review the mark-up version of the manuscript and adjust the initial edits as needed and have the remaining edits corrected as appropriate. The Managing Editor will email the corrected version of the manuscript back to the contractor for secondary editing.

Fact-Checking: Fact-checking is an essential task for all college and university presses and is critical to ensure the continued standing of the USAWC Press as a premier academic publisher. Initial formatting/fact-checking will be the first stage of editing completed by the contractor. The fact-check comments will be included in the copy edit comments to the authors, and the contractor will coordinate with the authors when necessary to confirm sources that could not be accessed/validated. The contractor will use established professional standards and respond to direction from the Press’s Editor in Chief and Managing Editor. The contractor will ensure manuscripts: 1) have been read for accuracy; 2) have researched/verified all facts, and requested additional sources from authors for facts that could not be verified initially; 3) cite only sources that have been assessed and validated (e.g. people, newspapers, magazines, books, the Internet, etc.); 4) include only quotations that have been confirmed; and, 5) have been checked for plagiarism. The contractor will ensure fact-checking is complete prior to submitting the manuscript to the Managing Editor following the copy edit.

The contractor shall email the secondary edited and mark-up manuscript to the Managing Editor for review and correction.

The Managing Editor will review the mark-up version of the manuscript and adjust the secondary edits as needed and have the remaining edits corrected as appropriate. The Managing Editor will email the corrected version of the manuscript back to the contractor for final proofreading.

The contractor shall then perform the final proofreading of the manuscript using a different editor, which includes another complete review of the manuscript, the general correctness of the manuscript, and a review to ensure that all corrections from the secondary editing and adjustments from SSI and USAWC Press have been made. The contractor shall conduct the final proofreading of the manuscript using the “Comment” and “Annotation” features of the Adobe Acrobat Pro program.

The contractor shall email the final edited and marked-up manuscript to the Managing Editor for review and correction.

Layout and Graphics: Concurrent with the editing and proofreading processes, the contractor, in consultation with the Managing Editor, will establish the layout, graphics, and final format requirements for each project. Layout and graphics support may be accomplished concurrent with the editing and proofreading tasks, but must be completed within 7 days following the acceptance of the final proofread manuscript by the Managing Editor.

Developmental Editing: At the discretion of the Press’ Editor-in-Chief, the Managing Editor may determine that a draft manuscript is insufficiently complete in content, citation, organization, logic, or clarity to be accepted for publication. In these cases, the author and manuscript will be referred for developmental editing support provided by the contractor. Developmental editing aims to increase both the quality of specific publications and improve the overall research, writing, and presentation skills of USAWC researchers and authors. The contractor will assist the author to correct deficiencies in content, organization, and style. Developmental editing exists outside the production timelines outlined above, and continues until the Editor-in-Chief and/or Managing Editor determine the manuscript has been suitably improved and is ready to be accepted for publication.

Multimedia Support: Select manuscripts published by the USACW Press will be supplemented through multimedia products, to include recorded audio interviews, podcasts, and video recordings. The contractor will support the Press by editing audio and video recordings provided by the USAWC Press. Audio and video presentations will be edited to current professional standards, consistent with the nature of the publication and under the guidance of the Production Editor. Multimedia products will be completed within the timeline and format agreed upon by the Production Editor and the contractor. Multimedia support is not included within the publication timelines for written products.

Task Requirements in Support of CSL: Each CSL written project will require 2 separate stages of editing: initial formatting and copy edit and final proofreading and format.

Editing and Proofreading. For all written products, the CSL Representative will email the initial manuscript to the contractor in Word format. The page count for the project and subsequent billing is determined by the total number of pages of the manuscript, inclusive of the front and back covers and front and back matter. The CSL Representative will manage each assignment and apply appropriate naming conventions to each manuscript to maintain clear communication with the contractor.

The contractor will perform all edits of the manuscript using the “Review” and “Comment” feature of the Word program. Once complete, the contractor will email the edited and annotated manuscript in Word to the CSL Representative for review and correction.

The CSL Representative will review the mark-up version of the manuscript and adjust the edits as needed and have the remaining edits corrected. The CSL Representative will email the corrected version of the manuscript back to the contractor for final editing.

The contractor shall email the final edited and mark-up manuscript to the CSL Representative for review and approval in Word, along with a draft Adobe Acrobat Pro version, to include proposed format, layout, and graphics.

The CSL Representative will review the mark-up version of the manuscript in Word and provide final guidance for the Adobe Acrobat draft and layout.

The contractor shall then perform the final proofreading of the report, article, or manuscript and deliver a print/post-ready copy of the work using the Adobe Acrobat format.

Layout and Graphics. Concurrent with the editing and proofreading processes, the contractor, in consultation with the CSL Representative, will establish the layout, graphics, and final format requirements for each project. Layout and graphics support may be accomplished concurrent with the editing and proofreading tasks, but must be completed within 7 days following the acceptance of the final proofread manuscript by the Managing Editor.

The USAWC Press Managing Editor, in consultation with the USAWC Press Production Editor and CSL Representative, will review the requirements for each manuscript and multimedia product to determine that requirements and standards have been met by the contractor. The Managing Editor will email the contractor for each project completed, after which the contractor will update their weekly/monthly reports and submit their monthly invoice through the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) system (formerly the WAWF system).

Government Review: Upon initial Government review, if draft or final deliverables do not meet the evaluation standards for quality, the draft or final deliverables will be returned to the contractor for further editing. It shall be the responsibility of the contractor to correct the errors without additional cost to the Government. The Government review period will not begin until initial Government review finds that deliverable(s) meet acceptable standards for all quality requirements.

Quality Control:

For SSI and the USAWC Press, edited manuscripts must be: grammatically accurate and factually correct (fact-checked); precise in content, organization, logic, and clarity consistent to the publication type and audience; and, edited/proofed in accordance with the USAWC Press Style Guide and the current edition of the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). The USAWC Press Style Guide can be accessed at: https://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/pubs/publishing-guide/. Graphics and layout will be completed in accordance with USAWC Press standard formats. Multimedia products (audio-video) will be edited to professional industry standards and present material in a manner consistent with the USAWC Press mission. The Managing Editor, USAWC Press, is the final accepting authority for completed written works published through the Press. The Production Editor (web services), USAWC Press, is the final accepting authority for completed audio-visual works published through the Press. In-progress reviews (via email or telephonically) between the contractor and the Managing and Production Editors, or their designated representatives, will occur informally. Weekly in-progress reviews may be necessary throughout the performance period based upon workload and the complexity of projects being edited.

For CSL, edited monographs, technical reports, handbooks, and newsletters must be grammatically accurate, precise in content, organization, and clarity consistent to the publication type and audience, and edited/proofed in accordance with standards established by CSL (hereafter referred to as the CSL Representative). Graphics and layout will be completed in accordance with formats established by the CSL Representative. The CSL Representative is the final accepting authority for completed written works published by CSL. In-progress reviews (via email or telephonically) between the contractor and the CSL Representative, or their designated representative, will occur informally. Weekly in-progress reviews may be necessary throughout the performance period based upon workload and the complexity of projects being edited.

Guidelines and Standards:

For SSI and the USAWC Press, edited manuscripts must be factually correct and 100% accurate in grammar and spelling in accordance with the CMS. In the event a grammatical issue is not addressed by the CMS, the USAWC Press Style Guide will be used. The Managing Editor will make all final determinations concerning formatting and style. Appropriate acronyms and other Army-unique usages must be applied. The contractor’s final proofread of the publication (in PDF format) will ensure accuracy, grammar, and spelling are 100% correct and no errors occurred during the electronic preparation of the manuscript. Audio-video formats and standards will be established by the Production Editor.

For CSL, edited monographs, technical reports, and newsletters must be 100% accurate in grammar and spelling in accordance with standards set by the CSL Representative. The CSL Representative will make all final determinations concerning format and style based upon the nature of the manuscript and the needs of the external client.

Editorial and Graphics-Layout Processes and Timelines:

SSI and the USAWC Press. For publications of 15,000 to 20,000 words, the initial format/fact-check is 15 days; the copy edit is 6 days; and the final proofread is 9 days. For publications of 45,000 to 75,000 words, the initial format/fact-check is 35 days; the copy edit is 16 days; and the final proofread is 12 days. For publications of 90,000+ words, the initial format/fact-check is 35 days; the copy edit is 22 days; and the final proofread is 12 days. Graphics and layout work may be accomplished concurrent with the editing and proofreading tasks. Graphics and layout work must be completed within 7 days following the acceptance of the final proofread manuscript by the Managing Editor.

CSL. For publications of 2,000 to 5,000 words, the initial format is 5 days; the copy edit is 3 days; and the final proofread is 4 days. For publications of 5,000 to 15,000 words, the initial format is 8 days; the copy edit is 5 days; and the final proofread is 5 days. For publications of 15,000 to 45,000 words, the initial format is 15 days; the copy edit is 6 days; and the final proofread is 9 days. For publications of 45,000 to 75,000 words, the initial format is 25 days; the copy edit is 12 days; and the final proofread is 10 days. The CSL Representative, following consultation with the contractor, may adjust the above timelines and format based upon the nature of the publication, the degree of editing and layout work required, and the requirements for delivery to external clients. Graphics and layout work can be accomplished concurrent with the editing and proofreading tasks. Graphics and layout work must be completed within 7 days following the acceptance of the final proofreading by the CSL Representative.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

The contractor shall comply with all applicable Department of the Army and U.S. Army War College Regulations concerning information technology and cybersecurity.

Security, Anti-Terrorism, and OPSEC:

Access and General Protection/Security Policy, Procedures, and Requirements: This standard language text is for contractor employees with an area of performance within an Army-controlled installation, facility or area. Contractor and all associated sub-contractors employees shall comply with applicable installation, facility, and area commander installation/facility access and local security policies and procedures (provided by Government representative). The contractor shall also provide all information required for background checks to meet installation access requirements to be accomplished by installation Provost Marshal Office, Director of Emergency Services, or Security Office. Contractor workforce must comply with all personal identity verification requirements as directed by DoD, HQDA, and/or local policy. In addition to the changes otherwise authorized by the changes clause of this contract, should the Force Protection Condition (FPCON) at any individual facility or installation change, the Government may require changes in contractor security matters or processes.

For Work Requiring Common Access Card (CAC): The USAWC Press Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or the CSL Representative will determine, based upon work to be provided under this PWS, whether select contractor personnel require CAC issuance.

For Contracted Personnel Identified As Requiring Common Access Card (CAC): Before CAC issuance, the contractor employee(s) requires, at a minimum, a favorably adjudicated National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) or an equivalent or higher investigation in accordance with Army Directive 2014-05. The contractor employee will be issued a CAC only if duties involve one of the following: (1) Both physical access to a DoD facility and access, via logon, to DoD networks on-site or remotely; (2) Remote access, via logon, to a DoD network using DoD-approved remote access procedures; or (3) Physical access to multiple DoD facilities or multiple non-DoD federally controlled facilities on behalf of the DoD on a recurring basis for a period of 6 months or more. At the discretion of the sponsoring activity, an initial CAC may be issued based on a favorable review of the FBI fingerprint check and a successfully scheduled NACI at the Office of Personnel Management.

iWATCH Training: The contractor and all associated subcontractors working within any Carlisle Barracks facility or area will ensure all employees read the statement below regarding the local iWatch Program. This locally developed statement will be used to inform employees of the types of behavior to watch for and instruct employees to report suspicious activity to the COR. This training will be completed within 30 calendar days of contract award and within 30 calendar days of new employees’ commencing performance, with the results reported to the COR no later than 35 days after contract award. iWatch Training: (Guard Info About Yourself and Your Job. Limit discussion and accessibility of any information (written or verbal) that may provide terrorists insights for targeting. Always use secure means when passing sensitive information, destroy identifiable information. Be aware of your surroundings. Write down license numbers of suspicious vehicles; note description of occupants. Recognize and Report Unusual or Suspicious Behavior to your COR or the Carlisle Barracks police at 717-245-4115. YOU are the first line of defense against terrorism.)

AT Level I Training: This standard language is for contractor employees with an area of performance within an Army-controlled installation, facility or area. All contractor employees, to include subcontractor employees, requiring access Army installations, facilities, and controlled access areas shall complete AT Level I awareness training within 30 calendar days after contract start date or effective date of incorporation of this requirement into the contract, whichever is applicable. The contractor shall submit certificates of completion for each affected contractor employee and subcontractor employee, to the COR or to the contracting officer (KO), if a COR is not assigned, within 7 calendar days after completion of training by all employees and subcontractor personnel. AT Level I awareness training is available at the following website: https://jko.jten.mil.

Contractor Employees Who Require Access to Government Information Systems: All contractor employees with access to government information system must be registered in the Army Training Certification Tracking System (ATCTS) at commencement of services and must successfully complete the Army IA awareness training prior to access to the information system and then annually thereafter. Additionally, personnel must annually sign an acceptable use policy (AUP). The training is available online at https://cs.signal.army.mil/. Personnel must also meet all personal security requirements IAW AR 25-2.

For Contracts that Require OPSEC Training: Per AR 530-1, Operations Security, new contractor employees must complete Level I OPSEC training within 30 calendar days of their reporting for duty. All contractor employees must complete annual OPSEC awareness training. In addition, any contractor who publishes official information to social media and external operating sites will be required to annually take OPSEC for EOP Operators Training at https://www.army.mil/socialmedia/managers/.

For Information Assurance (IA)/Information Technology (IT) Training: All contractor employees and associated sub-contractor employees must complete the DoD IA awareness training before issuance of network access and annually thereafter. All contractor employees working IA/IT functions must comply with DoD and Army training requirements in DoDD 8570.01, DoD 8570.01-M and AR 25-2 within 6 months of appointment to IA/IT functions.

For Information Assurance (IA)/Information Technology (IT) certification: Per DoD 8570.01-M, DFARS 252.239.7001 and AR 25-2, the contractor employees supporting IA/IT functions shall be appropriately certified upon contract award. The baseline certification as stipulated in DoD 8570.01-M must be completed upon contract award.

For Contracts that Require Handling or Access to Classified Information. Contractor shall comply with FAR 52.204-2, Security Requirements. This clause involves access to information classified “Confidential,” “Secret,” or “Top Secret” and requires contractors to comply with— (1) The Security Agreement (DD Form 441), including the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (DoD 5220.22-M); (2) any revisions to DOD 5220.22-M, notice of which has been furnished to the contractor.

Threat Awareness Reporting Program: For all contractors with security clearances: Per AR 381-12 Threat Awareness and Reporting Program (TARP), contractor employees must receive annual TARP training by a CI agent or other trainer as specified in 2-4b.

Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS)

IAW FAR 42.1502 and AFARS 5142.15, Past Performance Evaluations shall be prepared at least annually and at the time the work under a contract or order is completed by the Government. Past Performance information shall be entered into CPARS, the Government-wide evaluation reporting tool for all past performance reports on contracts and orders, at http://www.cpars.gov/. Instructions for submitting evaluations into CPARS are available at https://cpars.gov/documents/CPARS_User_Manual.pdf.