STATEMENT OF WORK
C.1 SCOPE:
The contractor(s) shall provide financial management education and training for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), its various field offices, and other Department of Defense (DoD) activities. These services include curriculum design and development, educational technology development, instructional services, curriculum maintenance/update, training evaluation and equipment/materials not identified as government furnished.
C.2 BACKGROUND:
DFAS provides full service finance and accounting for the Uniformed Military Services and other DoD activities. These services include military and civilian payroll, contract payment processing, travel reimbursement and payments, and many other services directly related to the financial management of the DoD workforce.
DFAS operations are worldwide. Major business functional processing centers are located in Denver, CO; Indianapolis, IN; Columbus and Cleveland, OH; Kansas City, MO; Rome, NY; Limestone, ME and several other sites as defined in Section J.
Accomplishment of the DFAS financial management mission requires employees to have a comprehensive understanding of the entitlements, policies, processes and corresponding financial operating systems. Legislative impacts, changes in business processes and changes in management systems continuously affect DoD financial activities and will be used to ensure the workforce remains skilled and effective in the application of the mission.
C.3 REQUIREMENTS:
The contractor shall design, develop and deliver financial management education and training to support the learning needs of the DFAS and DoD financial management workforce. Development and/or delivery of programs will be initiated as necessary via a BPA Call with specific requirements for deliverables and tasks.
The government will provide, at no cost to the contractor, approximately 16,000 gross square feet of administrative space in the Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center (SHCC), Southbridge MA for up to 100 contract employees. Southbridge MA will be the home office for this effort. The place of performance for delivery of required training will be cited in individual BPA Calls.
C.3.1 Phase-in Plan. At the end of this BPA, if a follow-on contract/BPA is awarded to another contractor, the contract awardee of this BPA agrees to transition details of the contract/BPA to the new successful contractor. The transition shall be effective, efficient, and expedient. The responsibilities/details to be transferred to any new contractor would include:
· Interface/coordination with the government and previous vendor;
· Contractor supervision of the phase-in process;
· Employee recruitment;
· Phase-in of key personnel;
· Initial training, indoctrination, and orientation of employees;
· Government and contractor furnished property inventory, custody, control and safeguard process
· Transfer of all data resident on individual PCs (procured by the government in support of FMET) as well as the servers currently in use at the SHCC to house/store curriculum-related data
The previous contractor will transition the contract information in good faith to avoid interruption of service to the DoD financial management community. A realistic timeline should be established to complete a thorough and concise transition of work with no interruption of critical training and/or loss of training services to DFAS and DoD customers. Following the expedient conclusion of the phase-in plan, the contractor will be totally capable of performing the required tasks without further assistance.
C.3.2 Design and Development of Curricula. The contractor shall design and develop curricula, specialized instructional materials, and evaluation instruments including recommended education medium to meet the identified needs. The curricula development process will include the analysis of training needs and the design of specific learning objectives to address the differences between desired and actual employee performance. All curricula will be approved by the government. The contractor shall explore rapidly changing learning technologies to develop courseware in support of new and improved business processes and emerging automated finance and accounting systems. This shall include development of distance learning courseware which is defined as structured learning that takes place through mediated information and instruction without the physical presence of an instructor. All courseware produced by the contractor shall remain the property of the government. Curriculum project kick-off meetings may be required following the award of each BPA Call.
C.3.3 Instructional Systems Design. The contractor shall use a sound instructional design approach to develop training curriculum. The approach must include measurable standards of performance that are outcome-based and reflect expectations of performance in a work role. The approach shall be in concert with the current emphasis on more timely methods for accomplishment of course material development. The approach selected by the contractor shall be reviewed and approved by the government.
C.3.4 Delivery of Instruction. The contractor shall deliver the programs and curricula as specified. Contractor instructors shall be subject matter experts in the DoD financial management field with extensive personal experience. Instructor led training (ILT) will remain the core, however, the increasing tempo of change will require increased emphasis on delivery methods made possible by advanced learning technologies. It shall support the pursuit of life-long learning for all and will encompass many types of technologies and media such as audiotape, videotape, computer-based instruction, web-based instruction, computer-mediated conferencing, interactive television, and satellite-delivered instruction. Technical training courses will be delivered at any DFAS operating site and/or other DoD locations specified within the BPA Call. The government will be responsible for the reproduction and shipment of course materials, unless otherwise indicated within the BPA Call. Class size will not exceed 30 students. More than one class could be required to be instructed simultaneously.
C.3.5 Modification/enhancement of existing training and materials. The contractor shall perform course maintenance (updating of existing curriculum, course content, delivery media, supporting materials, etc.) as defined by the government when dictated by changes in policies, procedures, processes or operating systems. The primary objective of routine training curriculum maintenance is to provide a mechanism for revising and updating multiple instructor led training (ILT) courses. It shall also include updating and/or revising distance learning courseware. The contractor shall update distance learning courseware to produce a version that can be installed on a central server and accessed through the DFAS e-Portal to support (as necessary) the training of end-users. Project kick-off meetings may be required following the issuance of each BPA Call.
C.3.6 Development of Performance Measurements. The contractor shall design, develop, and implement testing/measurement instruments to evaluate the impact of learning. Comprehensive evaluation of the impact of learning will include assessments from the perspective of the individual, the work team, the training program, and the DFAS organization. The contractor shall develop, validate, and administer tests that will assess the student’s understanding and acquisition of concepts presented in training. DFAS will utilize a standard evaluation form for course feedback. The DFAS Learning and Development Division (LDD) will make a determination for each functional and systems training course whether an on-line evaluation form or a paper evaluation will be used and the contractor will be advised accordingly. The following instructions shall apply:
· If an on-line evaluation is used, the COR shall be responsible for providing the contracted trainer with detailed instructions for completion. In turn, the instructor will assist each student in attendance with their input once the class has been successfully completed.
· If a paper evaluation is used, the contractor shall be responsible for distribution of the form and collecting this information from each student in attendance. The contracted trainer shall also be responsible for forwarding the original evaluation forms to the Site Classroom Manager or Employee Services Assistant at the DFAS training site. If the contractor is required to retain a copy of the evaluations for their records a copy will be provided by the Site Classroom Manager or Employee Services Assistant.
C.3.7 Program Management Oversight (PMO). The contractor shall manage, coordinate, monitor and support the financial management training and education efforts directed under this contract in collaboration with the government. The contractor shall implement and maintain a program management process that directs and controls the program’s administrative, technical, logistical, and financial functions for all BPA Calls and work performed. The contractor shall coordinate with the government on issues related to project management, scheduling and reporting, reviews and meetings, quality control and assurance, and generation of contractor responses to work orders/calls. To maintain effective, accountable performance, the contractor will apply mature management processes that direct and control all functions that contribute to accomplishment of work on each delivery order/call, including technical, cost, schedule, logistical, and administrative tasks, and financial functions for all delivery orders/calls and subsequent work performed. The cost for this oversight will be spread across all work performed under this contract.
C.3.7.1 Reviews and Meetings. The contractor shall schedule and conduct or support the reviews and meetings as outlined in the following subparagraphs. The contractor shall develop all agendas in coordination with the government and shall make an agenda available seven calendar days prior to the proposed review and/or meeting. After completing each review/meeting, the contractor shall prepare minutes of these meetings and make available for government review. The minutes shall include all designated action items and the proponent responsible for follow-on action. The contractor shall create and maintain action item status and resolution. These meetings may be conducted at government, or contractor facilities. The cost for the reviews and meetings will be spread across all work performed under this contract
C.3.7.1.1 Post Award Conference (PAC). The contractor shall conduct a PAC within 15 working days following the award of the contract. The PAC shall be a forum for discussing all key aspects of the contract and specifically the financial management education and training program. The contractor shall coordinate a proposed agenda with the government.
C.3.7.1.2 Quarterly Progress Reviews (QPR). The contractor shall conduct quarterly progress review meetings reflecting all work performed under this contract. The dates and locations of the meetings shall be mutually agreed upon with the government. During these reviews, the contractor shall present topics and issues covering costs; status, summary and progress of all work being performed; scheduling issues and concerns; equipment, logistics, and management related issues or concerns. The reviews shall establish a forum for decision making, problem resolution and general discussions.
C.4 REQUIRED STANDARD OF WORKMANSHIP.
Unless otherwise specifically provided in this contract, the quality of all services rendered hereunder shall conform to the highest standards in the relevant profession, trade or field of endeavor. All services shall be rendered by or supervised directly by individuals fully qualified in the relevant profession, trade or field, and holding any licenses required by law.
C.5 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. The ordering period for the Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) will be for five years.
C.6 PLACE OF DELIVERY. The place of delivery will be stated within each BPA Call.
C.7 DELIVERABLES.
C.7.1 Reference Documents. Reference documents relevant to the tasks to be performed will be provided to the contractor for use during the period of performance. These documents shall be returned to the government upon conclusion of the contract or performance period, whichever is earlier.
C.7.2 Reports. All deliverables shall be distributed by electronic mail or provided in electronic medium. The reports shall be created in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Project or a program version agreed upon with the government. Documentation shall be distributed as specified in the BPA Call.
C.7.3 The contractor must be capable of providing functional and/or systems courses within 14 calendar days notice of the need for the training class.
C.7.4 The government may cancel a class within 7 business days from the scheduled convening date without incurring costs.
C.8 SECURITY REQUIREMENTS.
All work performed relative to the taskings identified in the contract are sensitive, unclassified, or carry a Privacy Act classification.
C.8.1 Security Investigation Requirements. Contractor personnel performing under this contract are required to have a personnel security investigation. The contractor must provide employees that are suitable for working in a sensitive position.
SOLICITATION PROVISION:
The following solicitation provision is to be used in all DFAS solicitations that require contractor access to DFAS information systems, regardless of dollar value.
H-X "INFORMATION ASSURANCE"
All work performed relative to the requirement identified in the Statement of Work or Performance Work Statement is unclassified or is sensitive information covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 and other Department of Defense and DFAS regulations. Information Assurance shall be in accordance with DFAS 8500.1-R, Information Protection and Safeguards, DoD Directive (DoDD) 8500.1, Information Assurance, and DoD Instruction (DoDI) 8500.2, Information Assurance Implementation. The following requirements apply to the offeror/vendor selected for contract award resulting from this solicitation. Upon notification of being selected as the successful offeror/vendor, the contractor shall follow the instructions provided at (a) through (e) of this provision, as applicable.
(a) Magnitude. This contract will require personnel to meet the investigative standards as outlined in DoDI 8500.2 and DoDD 5200.2-R for IT-I and IT-II access. Contractors must be a US citizen, in accordance with DoDD 5200.2-R, Chapter 2, and specifically C2.1.1., General.
IT-I -
IT-II - All contractors
(b) Security Investigation Requirements for Information Technology (IT):
(1) For IT-I: No classified work will be required. However, the contractor will be
working with sensitive information which is covered by the Privacy Act or other government regulations and is considered category IT-I. The contractor must ensure sensitive information is properly safeguarded at the work-site and not removed from the work-site. In addition, the contractor will be required to comply with the security requirements associated with access to the DFAS enterprise network. All contractor personnel requiring IT-I access to DFAS information systems will be the subjects of a Single Scope
Background Investigation (SSBI). An IT-I position may be occupied pending the completion of the SSBI once the National Agency Check (NAC) portion has been completed and favorably adjudicated and a waiver has been requested and approved in accordance with DoDD 5200.2-R.
(2) For IT-II: No classified work will be required. However, the contractor will be
working with sensitive information which is covered by the Privacy Act or other government regulations and is considered category IT-II. Contractor must ensure sensitive information is properly safeguarded at the work-site and not removed from the work-site. In addition, the contractor will be required to comply with the security requirements associated with access to the DFAS enterprise network. All contractor personnel requiring IT-II access to DFAS information systems will be the subjects of a NACLC in accordance with DoDI 8500.2.