U008--629-21-1-583-0001 The Hudson Thomas Entry Level Leadership Development Program (VA-19-00104882)

Statement of Work

Leadership Literacy Training Program (Hudson Thomas)

Department of Veterans Affairs

Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System

Introduction

This is a services contract to provide curriculum development enhancement, instructional training, coaching, personnel resources/instructors, and assessments/reporting statistics from an accredited post-secondary institution located in New Orleans, LA, for the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (SLVHCS).

The Hudson Thomas Program is an entry level leadership development program that focuses on competencies in reading, writing, and computer literacy as well as soft-skills and career coaching. The goal of this program is to increase the number of entry-level workers eligible to apply for mid-level positions within the growing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system.

The Hudson Thomas Program is named in honor of Hudson Thomas, a dedicated leader and former President of the American Federation of Government Employees who passed away in 2012. Mr. Thomas served as a respiratory therapist with the Department of Veterans Affairs for 22 years. Mr. Thomas was a US Veteran who proudly served in the United States Navy and Air Force. Mr. Thomas s leadership reaffirmed qualities of fairness and respect and was integral in advocating that SLVHCS create a culture of ongoing learning and professional development. Hudson Thomas had a strong commitment to assisting others to achieve their goals, and it is in this spirit that this educational program was founded.

The Hudson Thomas Program provides a bridge for the existing Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System educational programs and creates a pipeline for GS 1 - 6 level workers through various education and career progressions. The Program fills a gap that is not duplicative of current educational and leadership development programs currently offered at the VA due to the focus on foundational skills for entry-level incumbent employees.

Project Description

The contractor shall use its resources and partner with the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (SLVHCS) Employee Education Corporate Function to implement and maintain SLVHCS s entry level 15 - week program (The Hudson Thomas Program). The contractor will provide ongoing coordination to include pre-planning and post follow-up for the program. This program will target the foundational skills for entry-level incumbent employees (GS 1 - 6 and wage grade personnel). The contractor will have extensive experience with administering instructional training and coaching for adult learners. The contractor will have extensive experience with administering the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) for adult learners and have extensive knowledge and experience of the (TABE) standards and guidelines set by the American Psychological Association.

The program and curriculum are to develop and enhance the skill set for each participant. This will increase the number of entry-level workers eligible to apply for mid-level positions within the growing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system. The curriculum objectives and course schedule will include but are not limited to:

Allow Program Participants to:

Gain knowledge about/and be prepared to advance on their

projected career path within and outside the VA.

Enhance writing and communication skills, i.e. essays,

professional emails, etc.

c) Enhance computer skills including: Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft

Office, Online Research Skills, and Basic Typing

Identify/Set Academic and Career Goals

Enhance Presentation/Public Speaking Skills, and Active

Listening skills.

f) Development of listening and customer service skills.

g) Enhance teamwork concept.

1.1 Scope of Work

The contractor will provide curriculum development, enhancement, coaching and instructional training for eligible program participants. Services include 16 hours per week of instructor-led training, 4-6 hours of coaching sessions outside of classroom time to meet with students to discuss their career skills.

The contractor will:

Administer and analyze results for TABE Pre-Test

Provide one instructor and program navigator during program implementation

Program navigator shall meet with participants 4-6 hours weekly.

Program instructor shall instruct 16 hours per week using literacy-based curriculum

Coordinate 30-minute final presentations with participants

Pair and coordinate mentor-mentee meetings for participants

Plan and organize mid-program recognition event and graduation

Design and print graduation program

Provide all education and training resources and tools to implement program

curriculum

Participate in regular meeting to assess program progress

Provide monthly progress report and final report at conclusion of program

SAMPLE COURSE SCHEDULE

Week 1

TABE Pre-Testing

Career Ready Assessment

Week 2

Computers: Navigating VA Job Portal Part I

Soft Skill: Program Goal Setting & Timeline

Week 3

Reading/Writing: TABE Workbooks

Math: Introduction to Geometry

Computers: Navigating VA Job Portal Part II

Soft Skill: Mentor to The Max

Week 4

Math: Introduction to Applied Math

Computers: Typing 101/Introduction to Microsoft Word

Soft Skill: Time Management/Prioritizing Events

Week 5

VA Human Resources Career Development Conversation

Reading/Writing: Revising/Editing Essays

Math: Skills Review

Computers: Editing Essays in Microsoft Word

Soft Skill: Personality Assessment

Week 6

Reading/Writing: Finalizing Essays and Presentations

Math: Intro to Integers

Computers: Typing 102/Introduction to PowerPoint

Soft Skill: Professional Etiquette When Networking

Week 7

Reading/Writing: Discussion & Essay on Life Topic

Math: Introduction to Measurement

Computers: Customer Service Skills

Soft Skill: Communication Skills

Week 8

Reading/Writing: Writing Professional Emails

Math: Keys to Solving Word Problems

Computers: Career Research

Soft Skill: Teamwork/Managing Conflict

Week 9

Job-Shadowing/Work Detail

Reading/Writing: Commonly Confused Words

Math: Introduction to Algebra

Computers: Successful Digital Tools

Soft Skill: Active Listening

Week 10

Reading/Writing: Thank You Letters

Math: Practical Math Applications

Computers: Employability & Interview Skills

Soft Skill: Mock Interviews Part I

Week 11

Reading/Writing: Presentation Prep

Math: Example Presentations

Computers: Presentation Prep

Soft Skill: Mock Interviews Part II

Week 12

Reading/Writing: All Skills Review

Math: All Skills Review

Computers: Presentation Practice

Soft Skill: Presentation Feedback

Weeks 13 - 15

TABE Post-Testing

Final Panel Presentations

2.0 General Information

Quality Assurance: The government shall evaluate the contractor s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. 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).

Recognized Holidays:

New Year s Day Labor Day

Martin Luther King Jr. s Birthday Columbus Day

President s Day Veteran s Day

Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day

Independence Day Christmas Day

Hours of Operation: The contractor is responsible for conducting business, between the hours of 7:30am 4:00pm, Monday thru 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.

Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed at 2400 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119.

Security: The contractor shall utilize the facility s computer equipment but will not have access personal identifiable information.

Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5. The contracting officer, Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings the contracting officer will apprise the contractor of how the government views the contractor's performance and the contractor will 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.

This contract will be base plus option years.