U--TEACHER BOARD CERTIFICATIONS

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Reference Number DOIAFBO200147 THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR INVITATION FOR BID. THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFARIS (BIA). REQUIRMENT: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking a qualified contractor to provide a certification process that certifies a minimum of 1,000 BIE teachers out of BIE¿s total population of approximately 4,500 educators over the period of performance. ELIGIBILITY: North American Industry classification System (NAICS): 923110 Administration of Education Programs Product Supply code (PSC): U099 Education Training Place of performance: TBD Respondents shall include the following information in there submissions: 1) Name of Company 2) Company Address 3) Duns and Bradstreet Number (DUNS) 4) Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code 6) Point of Contact (include telephone number and email address) 7) Brief Capabilities Statement of Company (Statements should describe recent and RELEVANT past performance to the NAICS code identified within this notice). 8) Applicable information as it pertains to this announcement, to include but not limited to the following: specifications of the unit that meets exceeds the product identified above, or specific details on the company¿s capability as it relates to this service requirement. Note: All Businesses working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) MUST be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) Database and have a positive standing. The purpose of this market research is to survey prospective vendors in order to collect data, comments, and other information pertaining to this industry. Upon review of the responses to this sources sought notice, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will determine if a set-aside (in full or in part) or procurement through full and open competition is in their best interest. Indian Economic Enterprise (IEE) and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) set-asides take precedence. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. No funds are available to pay for any information received from potential sources. All information submitted in response to this announcement is strictly voluntary. Only electronic mail will be acceptable for vendor¿s submissions. No feedback or evaluations will be provided regarding such submissions. RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN Monday 9/14/2020 at 2:00 pm. This package of no more 5 pages shall be sent via electronic mail to Raelynn Her Many Horses and [email protected]. Draft Statement of Work: Scope of Work BIE-funded schools are located on 64 reservations in 23 states with 183 schools being operated as either tribal grant or contract schools and others being operated by BIE. Currently, a BIE-funded school educator earns their respective teacher credentials in the state they teach within. With a national certificate, this shall make it easier for our teachers to fill teaching positions across our entire 23 state school system. BIE is seeking a contractor that has a proven track record of assessing, training and certifying teachers to the national teaching standard. The Contractor¿s goal shall be to provide a certification process that certifies a minimum of 1,000 BIE teachers out of BIE¿s total population of approximately 4,500 educators over the period of performance. These 4,500 educators includes all educators employed by tribally-controlled schools and BIE-operated schools. The primary purpose of the BIE teacher¿s certification process is to improve the standard for all American Indian students within the BIE system. Consistent with national education reform efforts like the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the BIE expects to utilize this certification process to improve overall teacher knowledge of the core curriculum they teach to Indian students. The BIE teacher¿s certification process requires an integrative approach. Any educator within the BIE-funded school system, Tribally controlled or BIE-operated schools, is eligible for this certification process. Responsibilities of Contractor The Contractor is responsible for furnishing all resources, labor, tools, equipment, materials, supplies, services, and supervision necessary to perform the contract. The Contractor shall provide all services for professional development, support, and mentoring for the BIE teachers and counselors who agree to pursue and complete National Board Certification. The summary of the objectives are listed directly below and explained in detail further below with their corresponding deliverables. All reports to be delivered shall describe the services provided by the Contractor to BIE educators, and BIE educators will identified by their full name, by their school employer and state. Services: The Contractor shall provide all orientation, mentoring, candidate support training and any additional training costs associated with these services. Candidate support training per candidate Certification and one-time retake fees per candidate, per component Atlas license, one time per year, maximum 400 users Atlas training, one time per year Candidate support travel ¿ this is not to exceed the amount specified in the contract award Maintenance of candidate progress Assessment process that determines the core knowledge level of BIE educators for the purpose to inform BIE with the intended result of improving the education of Indian students within the BIE-funded school system. Evaluations of classroom learning improvements as described below: Improve the classroom experience of Indian students being educated in the BIE education system supported by teaching analysis that includes the view from an Indian student perspective as experienced by Indian students. Evaluations of educators receiving services from Contractor to gauge their professional responsibilities including but not limited to the educator¿s interaction with their students, peers, Tribal interactions and local community. Objective 1: Certification. The Contractor shall manage a teacher certification process that has a proven track record within the education industry, to include providing all orientation, mentoring, candidate support training and any additional training costs associated with these requirements. Deliverable 1.1: The Contractor will provide monthly reports to provide status to the Government on the Contractor¿s services listed below, and the reports shall include descriptions of all orientation, mentoring, candidate support training and any additional training costs associated with these requirements. Candidate support training per candidate Certification and one-time retake fees per candidate, per component Atlas license, one time per year, maximum 400 users Atlas training, one time per year Candidate support travel ¿ this is not to exceed the amount specified in the contract award Candidate progress for each candidate per school. Objective 2: Assessment. The Contractor shall assist BIE management and principals in determining the appropriate course of action to improve the education process. The Contractor must utilize a core knowledge testing/assessment process that determines the core knowledge level of BIE educators receiving services from the Contractor. To carry out this objective the Contractor shall maintain a well-defined educational testing/classroom learning system with the capacity to determine which teachers meet rigorous national teaching certification standards. The Contractor shall provide this information for BIE to analyze and improve the effectiveness of the traditional school curriculum, with the ultimate goal of improving the education of Indian students within the BIE-funded school system. The Contractor shall include a description of the core knowledge testing/assessment process utilized for the purpose of determining the core knowledge level of BIE educators, and the current assessment of BIE educators receiving services from the Contractor. The Contractor¿s methodology and processes must include the necessary professional development to assist BIE teachers in raising their skills in order to exceed national standards. This shall entail the ability to reach teachers in rural remote locations. The Contractor¿s methodology shall include multiple measures of teacher knowledge to determine a teacher¿s actual level of academic achievement and classroom techniques. The Contractor shall create, distribute, administer, analyze, score and present the results of their findings to BIE schools and management as described below: Deliverable 2.1: A monthly assessment report that describes the process to determine the core knowledge level of BIE educators. 2.1.1 ¿ This assessment report shall include the Contractor¿s intended results going forward to improve the education of Indian students within the BIE-funded school system based on Objective 1, the Contractor¿s certification process. 2.1.2 ¿ The assessment repot shall include a description of the process utilized to assess the core knowledge level of BIE educators and details of BIE educators assessed by the Contractor to include their names, the BIE school area in which they are employed (Tribally Controlled Schools, Bureau Operated Schools and Navajo Schools), the name and address of the of the school, the supervisor of the educator, the services provided by the Contractor and the training completed by the educator. Objective 3: Improved Classroom Learning Evaluations. An evaluation report of BIE classroom learning improvements as a result of success of meeting Objective 1, Deliverables 1.1. Building on the core knowledge testing/assessment utilized by the Contractor, BIE educators shall be further evaluated for the intended result of improved classroom learning experience of Indian students being educated within the BIE education system. Deliverable 3.1: A monthly evaluation report of Indian students taught by the BIE educators receiving services the Contractor for the purpose to identify the Contractor¿s effect on the BIE classroom experiences that includes the view from an Indian student¿s perspective as experienced by Indian students in the classroom. 3.1.1 ¿ Classroom evaluation reports shall identify the Contractor¿s effect on the BIE classroom experiences that includes the view from an Indian student¿s perspective as experienced by Indian students in the classroom. These evaluations shall include teaching analysis of the BIE educators receiving services the Contractor to include the evaluation criteria and methodology applied and the services provided by the Contractor. 3.1.2 ¿ Identifying the educator should include the name of the educator, their supervisor, the name and address of the school employing the educator, and the area of operation the school is managed though (Tribally Controlled Schools, Bureau Operated Schools and Navajo Schools). Training provided by the Contractor and completed by the educator shall also be included. 3.1.3 ¿ The reports shall address any trends, best practices, weaknesses or strengths by location, differences between BIE managed and tribally controlled schools, pre and post impact of the teacher certification process, its impact on training, recruitment, and retention of highly effective teachers, and any best practices that can be identified/implemented. Objective 4: Educator Evaluations. Evaluations of educators receiving services from Contractor to gauge their professional responsibilities as an educator. Deliverable 4.1: A monthly evaluation report to include the evaluation criteria and methodology applied, identify the educators and notate the services provided by the Contractor and training completed by the educator. 4.1.1 ¿ The reports shall include but are not to be not limited to educator interactions with students, peers, Tribal interactions and local community representatives. 4.1.2 ¿ Identifying the educator should include the name of the educator, their supervisor, the name and address of the school employing the educator, and the area of operation the school is managed though (Tribally Controlled Schools, Bureau Operated Schools and Navajo Schools). Training provided by the Contractor and completed by the educator shall also be included. 4.1.3 ¿ The reports shall address any trends, best practices, weaknesses or strengths by location, differences between BIE managed and tribally controlled schools, pre and post impact of the teacher certification process, its impact on training, recruitment, and retention of highly effective teachers, and any best practices that can be identified/implemented. Type of Contract The Government intends to award a single purchase order. The purchase order will be for one year. Government-Furnished Property No Government furnished property shall be provided to the Contractor. Responsibilities of Government The Government shall not exercise any direct supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. This contract is a non-personal services contract, under which the Contractor is an independent contractor. The Government may evaluate the quality of professional services provided. Place of Performance/Hours of Operations Place of performance may be on-site at the BIE school and the Contractor¿s facility. Contract performance shall take place between regular business hours and in coordination with each BIE school and educator as necessary. Services shall not be required on Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, weather related closings, administrative closings, or similar BIE, BIE, or other Government directed facility closings. Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the following public holidays for Federal employees. Please note that most Federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule. For these employees, when a holiday falls on a non-workday -- Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday usually is observed on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). Federal holidays shall follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management schedule established by federal law: www.opm.gov/operating_status_schedules/fedhol. The Contractor must maintain an adequate work force for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this performance work statement. This statute does not negate any contractor requirement to travel on federal holidays in order to meet successful performance of services requested under the contract. Deliverables/Deliverable Schedule Services shall be provided in accordance with the Contractor provided performance work statement. Written reports shall be submitted to the Government in hard copy and electric format. Two (2) copies shall be distributed to the COR, and one (1) copy to the BIE Project Manager. Upon contract award the Contractor shall provide a performance activity plan to the COR for approval. The plan shall provide details regarding: orientation/training schedule, testing schedule, mentoring schedule, and report due dates. Unless otherwise specified, the Government shall have a maximum of fifteen (15) working days from the day the draft deliverable is received to review the document, provide comments back to the Contractor, approve or disapprove the deliverable(s). The Contractor shall also have a maximum of fifteen (15) working days from the day comments are received to incorporate all changes and submit the final deliverable to the Government. All days are intended to be workdays unless otherwise specified. Security Requirements In accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3201 (P.L. 101-630), Indian Child Protection and Family Violence prevention Act; 42 U.S.C. 13041, Crime Control Act of 1990; 441 Departmental Manual, Personnel Security and Suitability Requirements all positions with duties and responsibilities involving regular contact with or control over Indian children are subject to a background investigation and determination of suitability for employment. Accordingly, all such positions require a favorable screening (applicant and suitability) determination made by the Bureau of Bureau of Indian Affairs; and a favorable background investigation determination conducted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). A favorable screening (applicant and suitability) determination must be made by the Bureau of Indian Affairs prior to contract award or made within 60 days of incorporation of this clause into a current/existing contract. Pending completion of a background investigation by OPM, the Contractor who has been granted a favorable screening (applicant and suitability) determination must be within the sight and under the supervision of a Government employee who has had a completed background investigation (42 U.S.C. 13041 (3)) during contract performance until a final background investigation determination has been made. Prior employment with the Federal Government, including the Bureau of Indian Education or the Bureau of Indian Affairs, does not assure that the appropriate screening or investigation was conducted nor does it alleviate or guarantee a favorable screening (applicant and suitability) determination or background investigation. Prior to contract award the Acquisition Office shall notify the resultant contractor to provide verification of favorable screening. It is solely the company, individual or contractor¿s responsibility to contact the BIE OJS in order to obtain a complete security package, which includes but is not limited to appropriate investigative forms and/or inquire about their previous investigation; and, obtain a screening (applicant and suitability) determination, and subsequent final background investigation. If an unfavorable screening (applicant and suitability) determination is made, a contract shall not be awarded to the individual who received an unfavorable screening or to the company who has proposed to employ the individual to perform the work. The individual and or the company who proposed to employ this individual may be determined to be non-responsible if an unfavorable screening (applicant and suitability) determinations is made, which shall make them ineligible for contract award. If an unfavorable final background investigation determination is made, the contract may be terminated and the Contractor employee in question shall not be authorized to provide service to the BIE, if the service involves contact with or regular control over Indian children. The Contractor or the Contractor¿s representative (s) shall have all orientation, training, and mentoring at an off-site location away from BIE funded schools. Any contractor or contractor¿s representatives shall follow the above security requirements and gain a favorable screening determination prior to entering any BIE funded school. Records/Data Safeguards Any Government information made available or to which access is provided and which is marked or shall be marked "For Official Use Only" or ¿FOUO¿ shall be used only for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this contract and shall not be divulged or made known in any manner to any person except as may be necessary in the performance of the contract. Disclosure to anyone other than an officer or employees of the Contractor or Subcontractor at any tier shall require prior written approval of the Contracting Officer. Requests to make such disclosure shall be addressed to the Contracting Officer. Contractors are reminded that information furnished under this solicitation may be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Therefore, all items that are confidential to business, or contain trade secrets, proprietary information, or personnel information must be clearly marked. Marking of items shall not necessarily preclude disclosure when the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM or the Government) determines disclosure is warranted by FOIA. However, if such items are not marked, all information contained within the submitted documents shall be deemed to be releasable. Any information made available to the Contractor by the Government must be used only for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this contract and must not be divulged or made known in any manner to any person except as may be necessary in the performance of the contract. In performance of this contract, the Contractor assumes responsibility for protection of the confidentiality of Government records and must ensure that all work performed by its subcontractors shall be under the supervision of the Contractor or the Contractor's responsible employees. The Contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government supplies, information, and Government furnished equipment if provided for contractor use. Each officer or employee of the Contractor or any of its subcontractors to whom any Government record may be made available or disclosed must be notified in writing by the Contractor that information disclosed to such officer or employee can be used only for a purpose and to the extent authorized herein, and that further disclosure of any such information, by any means, for a purpose or to an extent unauthorized herein, may subject the offender to criminal sanctions imposed by 19 U.S.C. 641. That section provides, in pertinent part, that whoever knowingly converts to their use or the use of another, or without authority, sells, conveys, or disposes of any record of the United States or whoever receives the same with intent to convert it to their use or gain, knowing it to have been converted, shall be guilty of a crime punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisoned up to ten years, or both. Travel Travel may be required in performance of this contract. Allowable travel and per diem are governed by P.L.99-234 and FAR Part 31. All travel shall be pre-approved and in accordance with terms and conditions of the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR) and reimbursement of costs shall not exceed the prevailing applicable per diem rates and limitations specified in the JTR. Vouchers and supporting documents shall be submitted for payment in the monthly invoice along with a trip report which includes, as a minimum, the purpose of the trip, date(s) of travel, labor category and any outcomes of the trip. The BIE shall approve all travel related to the fulfillment of this contract in advance of travel being undertaken. General Definitions BIE - shall mean the Bureau of Indian Education. Education - means the basic core requirement classes to include: English; Science; Math; Social Studies; Writing Skills, self-paced learning and Adult Basic Education (GED). Local School - means the servicing school responsible for sending teachers and staff to the facility for purposes of providing education to the youth. Superintendent - means the Local Schools Superintendent. D - Packaging and Marking: All written and electronic correspondence, invoices, and other documents shall include the Contract number and Task Order number when applicable. E - Inspection and Acceptance: Acceptance shall be by the COR in coordination with Project Manager. Performance Objectives: targets set on a quarterly, semi-annual or yearly basis. Performance objectives are required to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. Performance Measures: the quantifications that provides evidence of the degree to which performance results are attained. This includes monitoring project status(es) to identify progress toward achieving performance goals and objectives.