I. INTRODUCTION The Department of State, Foreign Service Institute is the federal government’s primary training facility for personnel of the foreign affairs community. FSI also provides training for employees of the Department of State and other agencies. FSI offers more than 425 courses. The Institute is comprised of a number of schools/centers that include the School of Professional and Area Studies, the School of Language Studies, the School of Leadership and Management, the School of Applied Information Technology, and the Transition Center. The School of Professional and Area Studies orients new State Department and other USG employees to the foreign affairs environment; provides high-quality job-related training for Foreign and Civil Service personnel in the Administrative Management, Consular, Economic, Political, and Public Diplomacy areas; improves the professional skills and abilities of Department of State Office Management Specialists and Office Support Personnel; enhances functional and management skills of the Foreign Service National staff; and provides employees of foreign affairs agencies knowledge about foreign countries and regions and an understanding of American interests and policies related to those countries and regions. Orientation Division (FSI/SPAS/OR) The Orientation Division offers seven different courses ranging in length from two days to seven weeks for new Foreign Service and Civil Service employees, Foreign Service Officers returning to Washington, D.C. for their first domestic tour, and employees of other USG agencies. The courses for new Foreign Service Generalist and Specialist employees introduce them to the Foreign Service environment and prepare them for their first overseas or domestic assignments. The mandatory 9-day course for new Civil Service employees orients them to the organization and culture of the Department of State. The mandatory Washington Tradecraft course for officers assigned to their first domestic tour provides information and develops skills needed to function effectively in the Washington context. Short courses, such as Working in an Embassy which has an in-class and an on-line version, are offered to employees of other USG agencies being assigned to an overseas mission. Administrative Management Training (FSI/SPAS/AMT) The Administrative Management Training division prepares employees to serve in missions abroad and in the Department of State through courses in Administrative Management Operations, Financial Management Operations, General Services Operations and Acquisition and Human Resources Management. Consular Training (FSI/SPAS/CON) The Consular Training division provides basic instruction in consular operations in a simulated consular environment. CON also offers advanced consular studies, fraud prevention for consular managers, duty officer training, automation, analytic interviewing and advanced name-checking training for consular managers, along with twelve sessions per year of week-long workshops at FSI for consular FSN personnel, and five overseas workshops for consular officers. Economic and Commercial Training (FSI/SPAS/ECON) The Economic and Commercial Training Division trains employees to function effectively in economic jobs abroad and in the Department of State and other USG agencies. Economic training programs range from twenty-two short, specialized courses to a nine-month program delivering the equivalent of a strong B.S. degree in economics along with a heavy dose of applied economics. Specialized courses focus on trade issues and dispute resolution, aviation, telecommunications, energy, terrorist financing, intellectual property rights and biotechnology. Three tradecraft programs with multiple offerings each prepare officers for a first assignment in economic and political sections; commercial work; and environment, science and technology. There is also a course on applied economics for non-economic officers. Two long-term university graduate training slots are also available. Political Training (FSI/SPAS/POL) The primary mission of the Political Training Division (POL) is to train Foreign Service, Civil Service, Foreign Service National and other U.S. government employees to represent United States government interests both abroad and in Washington. POL conducts Tradecraft courses to train entry-level Foreign Service officers for their initial assignments, and offers courses to mid-level officers in a wide-range of relevant subjects: political-military affairs, global issues, human rights, arms control, nonproliferation, international negotiation skills, multilateral diplomacy, congressional relations, intelligence and foreign policy, combating terrorism, labor officer skills, and orientation courses for the PRM, INL, and Legislative Affairs bureaus. The Division also features training for selected Foreign Service National employees to represent American objectives in their respective Embassies. Public Diplomacy Training (FSI/SPAS/PD) The Public Diplomacy Training division prepares employees to serve overseas as Public Affairs Officers, Cultural Affairs Officers and Information Officers and, in Washington D.C., as Public Diplomacy Officers. Officers learn how to apply Public Diplomacy resources to advance foreign policy objectives. Offerings include courses on media relations, professional and academic exchange programs, VIP visits, responses to crisis situations, and the administration of grants and other PD funds. Office Management Training (FSI/SPAS/OMT) The Office Management Training division provides secretarial and office management training for Foreign Service, Civil Service, and Foreign Service Nationals personnel, emphasizing office management, professional, teambuilding, technical, and communication skills. Foreign Service National Training (FSN) Six Divisions in SPAS provide training for Foreign Service Nationals: Administrative Management, Consular, Economic, Political, Public Diplomacy and Office Management. Courses specifically for FSNs are held overseas and at FSI. In addition, FSNs can attend any unclassified functional courses offered by various divisions on a space-available basis. Area Studies (FSI/SPAS/AS) The Area Studies division provides knowledge about a region or country and related American interests and policies. The courses cover history, politics, economics, religion, society and culture, with an emphasis on relevant global issues and United States interests and challenges. More than 40 formal courses are offered. Individual guidance may be provided to those not able to participate in the courses. Curriculum and Staff Development (FSI/SPAS/CSD) The Curriculum and Staff Development division provides services that enhance the performance and skills of FSI instructors and Department of State personnel. CSD courses cover topics such as presentation and delivery skills, facilitation, program design and evaluation, performance measurement, adult learning, and training of trainers. In addition, CSD staff members are available to assist offices and bureaus throughout the Department with training delivery, program evaluation, staff development, offsite facilitation, FSN training, teambuilding, and other areas of organizational effectiveness. II. BACKGROUND In the past, FSI/SPAS has contracted with a variety of companies to provide insurance coverage for a wide range of needs across its nine divisions. This led to multiple contracts addressing similar needs. Some of these contracts were solicited each and every year; others were awarded on a multiyear basis. Some were awarded to a single company while some had multiple awardees. When a new activity or an existing activity required insurance coverage, FSI had to send out a new solicitation. The struggle to anticipate all needs related to insurance coverage, the constant need to solicit, and the rigidity of the single contract led to identification of a more flexible contracting tool. With a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), FSI/SPAS is actively seeking contractors to provide a variety of insurance needs. III. REQUIREMENTS Insurance provided for domestic activities must include some or all of the following benefits: • $100,000 Accident and Sickness Expense Benefits: Covered medical expenses incurred within the USA to include: medical or surgical treatment, services and supplies, hospital services, local ambulance, visits to a physician’s office, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. Covered expenses are subject to a $50 -$100 deductible. • $25,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefit Insurance provided for overseas activities must include the following benefits: • GLOBAL COVERAGE: $100,000 Accident and Sickness Expense Benefits: Covered medical expenses incurred while traveling overseas to include: medical evacuation if necessary, emergency and hospitalization services, medical or surgical treatment, visits to doctors offices, prescriptions, ambulance and lab services, emergency dental coverage, and repatriation of remains. Covered expenses are subject to a $100 deductible. Additional items to be provided must include: • The issuance of an insurance card to each individual • Coverage of all individuals aged 21 through 85 • Flexibility regarding coverage: At very short notice people may need to be added/dropped from the list of covered individuals under the insurance policy Additional items to be provided may include: • An assistance guide/sheet/booklet which explains the services available, assistance procedures and toll free telephone numbers to use during the visit to the United States. • The allowance of Foreign Service Nationals to add extra days on to the coverage paid for by this contract with either a credit card or international money order for extra days approved by their home post. Coverage will be for dates given for each individual traveler’s dates of travel.******************************************************* ALL INTERESTED PARTIES MUST RESPOND IN WRITING TO
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