Educational and Vocation Aptitude and Interest Assessment National Portal for Participants Eligible under Chapter 36

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE

7. ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE

OF PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the

offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR

ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY

is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not,

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES

SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made

by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received

prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

BY

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

(Type or print)

(Type or print)

(Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code)

(If other than Item 6)

(Specify type of modification and authority)

(such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

(Signature of Contracting Officer)



1

5





A00001













Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick

Department of Veterans Affairs

321 Ballenger Center Drive, Suite 125



Frederick MD 21703







Strategic Acquisition Center - Frederick

Department of Veterans Affairs

321 Ballenger Center Drive, Suite 125



Frederick MD 21703

To all Offerors/Bidders























VA119A-17-R-0342

07-26-2017









X



X

X



1



Friday, August 25, 2017 12:00 noon EST





























X

1

The purpose of this amendment is to transmit the Government responses to the submitted Industry questions.





The proposal due date is extended to Friday, August 25, 2017 12:00 noon EST to christina.heller@va.gov.

















Todd Synder

Contracting Officer











Page 2 of 5



VA119A-17-R-0342: VBA Educational and Vocational Aptitude and Interest Assessments Industry Question and Government Responses

Is there a current assessment/online portal in use now? If so, please provide details.



Government Response: Yes, there are current online portals in use. The portals are provided and managed by the current contractor. There are separate designated portals for individuals who meet the requests for Chapter 36 eligibility under 38 U.S. Code § 3697A and 3697.

One national portal for individuals who meet the requests for Chapter 36 eligibility under 38 U.S. Code § 3697A and 3697. Individuals can take the aptitude and interest assessments and are able to view, print, and download their completed, individual results.

There are 2 National Portals (VR&E and Education Service) and 56 sub-portals designated to each Regional Office. The portals are available to individuals who meet the requests for Chapter 36 eligibility under 38 U.S. Code § 3697A and 3697 services and benefits. Individuals can take the aptitude and interest assessments and are able to view, print, and download their completed, individual results.



Within each of the 56 designated Regional Office sub-portals, management portals are available for VA personnel to view, print, and download results of completed assessments as well as an in-depth analysis of the results. VA personnel can also edit testing parameters to accommodate the individual such as eliminating the time clock. The designated VA program administrator(s) is able to access all sub-portals to effect management of resources and assessment allocations within the portal. VA program administrator (s) can also create and edit user logins and passwords for other VA personnel and individuals who are taking the assessment.



Pg. 2:

The online tool must allow eligible dependents, Servicemembers, or Veterans .

Define dependents.



Government Response: The term Dependents refers to those eligible dependents of Servicemembers who have been deemed eligible to receive educational and vocational services through the VA under Chapter 35.



Pg. 16-17:

In addition to the assessment instrument, the contractor must also provide a resource with a detailed explanation of the assessment, included sections, methodology, and background. This resource must include definitions and explanations of and any codes, abbreviations, or acronyms which may be used in the assessment report. This resource must be easy to read, accessible to all participants, and able to assist participants in gaining a full understanding of all aspects of the assessment results, ensuing report, and recommendations. The contractor must also provide a detailed resource for participants and VR&E counselors to further explain the different sections of the assessment, how results will be presented to the participant, and keys to interpretation of the report.

Define or provide details of expected format(s) of the expected resources.



Government Response: The first resource is expected to be online and a readily accessible user guide for use by assessment participants. This user guide should outline all sections of the assessment, what is being examined, background information for each section, and how the section impacts the overarching assessment calculation. This user focused resource must also include definitions and explanations of all codes, abbreviations, acronyms, etc. which are used throughout the assessment results/report. The intent of this resource/user guide is to provide users with the tools necessary to fully understand the results of the assessment without the aid of a counselor or other professional. This resource/user guide is expected to be written at the user level, utilizing layperson language to convey the information contained within the resource.



The second resource is expected to also be online within the portal and readily accessible for use by VR&E counselors. This guide/resource is expected to explain the different sections of the assessment, what is being examined, and background information on how the information obtained within that section is used within each assessment. The guide/resource must also include definitions, and explanations of all codes, abbreviations, acronyms, etc. used throughout both the assessment and report to better equip VR&E personnel in understand and guiding a user through the assessment and results of the assessment. This guide/resource is intended to be written at the counselor level to better equip VR&E personnel to assist Servicemembers and Veterans in understanding and using the results of the assessment to shape their future educational and vocational goals.



Pg. 17:

Options available to Administrators to make case-by-case changes to assessments must include the ability to eliminate the time clock on cognitive aptitude and battery test and to offer the test in either English or Spanish.

In addition to what s listed above, what types of changes will Administrators make? What content management capabilities do the Dept. and/or Administrators currently have?



Government Response: In addition to the above, assessment administrators must have the ability to implement variations in assessment delivery, as needed, to accommodate Servicemembers and Veterans with handicaps or impediments in completing the assessment. Currently, assessment administrators do not have capability to change or adjust the assessment content. Administrators must have the capability to make accommodations for those Servicemembers and Veterans with handicaps or other impediments to successfully complete the assessment.



How many people does the Dept. anticipate will use the system?



Government Response: It is anticipated that there will be approximately 250 VA employees as regular and recurring users/administrators of the system working to coordinate assessments for eligible participants and retrieve assessment results. Additionally, the VA anticipates somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 transitioning Servicemembers and Veterans completing assessments annually between VR&E and Education Service.



The RFP indicates on pg. 51 that vendors are to complete Attachment D: Offering Pricing Spreadsheet, but on pg. 53 it is stated that Offerors price proposal shall be provided in excel format Attachment H: Offeror Pricing Proposal and a completed B.6 Price Cost Schedule.

Are we to use Attachment D or Attachment H?

Neither Attachment D or Attachment H is included in the RFP and neither is available for download at www.fbo.gov. Where can we access these documents?



Government Response: There should have been no reference to either Attachment D or H. Please see the revised solicitation. An excel document is required for the vendors proposed pricing and Section B.6 Price Cost Schedule needs to be completed.



On page 15 of the RFP it states there are 56 Regional Offices; on page 17 it states there are 57.

Are there 56 or 57 Regional Offices?



Government Response: There are 57 Regional Offices, each with their own sub-portal under the VR&E National portal and a separate National portal for use by Education Service.



We can provide the Dept. of VA with an evidence-based, proven-effective career interest assessment, as well as a system to deliver expert education planning and career guidance services. However, to best offer an assessment that measures aptitude, we would need a period of approx. 4-6 months to customize our solution, OR we would need to partner with an aptitude test provider.

Are either of the above scenarios unacceptable?



Government Response: A 4-6 month lead time before reaching full performance would NOT be acceptable. If a partnership solution were undertaken to meet the aptitude portion of the assessment, it must be seamlessly delivered as part of the assessment product.

A delay in providing the aptitude measure in the assessment would be unacceptable.  We cannot wait 4-6 months for development and implementation of this portion of the assessment.  A successful offeror must provide a solution to meet the full scope of the PWS.  There will have to be a phase in period, but that will be to transition between the current provider and the new awardee.  There will not be time to work out development, testing, and acceptance during this transition time.



Please confirm meanings of the following terms used in Section D: Specific Mandatory Tasks and Associated Deliverables (pg. 18) and B.6 Price/Cost Schedule (pg. 27):

Base Period = Contract Year 1

Option Period One = Renewal 1; Contract Year 2

Option Period Two = Renewal 2; Contract Year 3

Option Period Three = Renewal 1; Contract Year 4

Option Period Four = Renewal 1; Contract Year 5

Government Response: Your meanings are correct but the contract language will not be changed.





See attached document: 6500hbk15.