SOURCES SOUGHT
U -- NASA SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAM
- Notice Date
- 1/3/2005
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 611430
— Professional and Management Development Training
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771
- ZIP Code
- 20771
- Solicitation Number
- NNH0586873L
- Response Due
- 1/18/2005
- Archive Date
- 1/3/2006
- Description
- NASA is seeking capabilities from 8(a) small businesses to determine the appropriate level of competition for this requirement, which is the development, implementation, and delivery of the NASA Small Business Training Program. The purpose of this program is to teach small and small disadvantaged businesses the skills necessary to market NASA, compete for NASA procurements, and execute a NASA contract or subcontract successfully. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. THE DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK FOR THIS REQUIREMENT IS PUBLISHED BELOW. Interested offerors/vendors having the required specialized capabilities to meet the requirement should submit a capability statement of no more than fifteen (15) pages, indicating the ability to perform all aspects of the effort described herein. Capability statements should be in hard copy. Interested offerors must also include a copy of their SBA 8(a) certification letter. All responses shall be submitted to the point of contact below no later than January 18, 2005. Please include the reference number NNH0586873L in any response. Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below. NASA SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAM DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK C.1 BACKGROUND The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) seeks to create and maintain a reliable base of small businesses capable of providing sound and innovative technical solutions that will assist the Agency to achieve its objectives and advance its mission. The OSDBU further seeks to ensure that these small businesses are able to compete successfully for NASA contracts and subcontracts and to understand and manage the contract requirements. To achieve these ends, the OSDBU, in 1994, created the Training and Development of Small Businesses in Advanced Technologies (TADSBAT) program, which, in conjunction with Public Laws 101-144 and 107-507 and NASA?s OSDBU Functional Leadership Plan, seeks to encourage and increase small business participation in NASA programs. Agency-wide changes in its mission and vision as well as changes in federal procurement practices have necessitated a re-conceptualization of the OSDBU?s training initiative. In response, the OSDBU has established the NASA Small Business Training Program, which will revise TADSBAT while continuing to target small businesses interested in seeking procurement opportunities within NASA?s highly technical and complex environment. The OSDBU anticipates that a result of such training will be an increase in contract and subcontract awards to all categories of high tech small businesses, including Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Woman-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB), HUBZone firms, and Veteran-Owned / Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (V/SDVOSB), thereby expanding NASA?s competitive base of contractors from which it purchases high quality goods and services at the best practicable value. Providing small and small disadvantaged businesses instruction in marketing their services to NASA and in instituting management techniques that are responsive to NASA requirements has helped NASA ?grow? a more capable cadre of potential contractors interested in obtaining NASA-related work and has improved NASA?s overall performance in accomplishing its mission. For participating small businesses, the benefit has been twofold: in addition to teaching them how to do business with NASA, such training, exportable to the wider federal procurement arena, contributes to their own growth and viability. C.2 SCOPE The NASA Small Business Training Program will be a redesign of TADSBAT, the existing OSDBU training program for small businesses. It will update and modify TADSBAT to reflect recent changes in NASA?s organizational structure and priorities as well as build on TADSBAT?s success in teaching small businesses to develop business management skills that will enable them to: Understand NASA?s mission, vision, organization, culture, and long-term programmatic needs Develop a marketing approach consistent with the NASA mission, in order to market appropriate business and technical solutions Utilize NASA?s small business-friendly programs and initiatives to obtain business Monitor project requirements and performance Implement and maintain appropriate accounting systems for contract costs Generate required reports Like TADSBAT, the Small Business Training Program will consist of two training courses: a basic, introductory course for high tech small businesses that are new to NASA programs and an advanced course that targets more experienced high tech small businesses. The contractor will be expected to develop and implement the NASA Small Business Training Program and to deliver the courses, employing innovative and effective instructional methodologies that enhance learning and ensuring that the courses are appropriate to the senior executive officers of high tech small businesses. The courses will acquaint participants to NASA and its culture and will teach them the skills necessary to market NASA, compete for NASA procurements, and execute a NASA contract or subcontract successfully. The ideal contractor for the NASA Small Business Training Program is a mature 8(a) firm that has demonstrated its success in meeting the challenges of starting, growing, and sustaining a business and, therefore, is knowledgeable about procurement vehicles, marketing strategies, proposal writing, financial issues, business management, and information technology. Of equal importance, the 8(a) firm must have a working understanding of NASA, its field Centers, its organization and business culture, its mission, and its vision. The 8(a) firm must be experienced in instructional design / strategies and in conducting training courses and managing training programs. The 8(a) firm should also possess a successful record of working with other federal, commercial, state, and/or local government clients. C.3 REQUIREMENTS Development and implementation of the NASA Small Business Training Program requires the following: (1) development of an overall Training Plan, (2) design and development of the training courses, (3) delivery of the courses, (4) administration of the Training Program, and (5) qualified training personnel. Following are the tasks associated with each of these components. C.3.1 Training Plan The contractor shall conduct a review of the existing Training and Development of Small Businesses in Advanced Technologies (TADSBAT) courses and all related training materials, to determine the strengths of the courses as well as any need for updates and/or revisions. The contractor shall also evaluate the courses? appropriateness to NASA?s operational configuration, priorities, and procedures. The NASA OSDBU will make these training and training-related materials available to the contractor upon award of contract. The contractor shall then develop a draft Training Plan that is based on the review findings and that serves as the conceptual underpinning for the NASA Small Business Training Program. The draft Training Plan shall discuss the contractor?s approach to training entrepreneurs and executives and shall describe expected learning objectives, instructional strategies, evaluation strategies, instructor training to ensure quality and consistency, training program administration, and support to students. The draft Training Plan shall also include a timeline that indicates submittal dates for the materials listed in this Statement of Work, deadlines for completion, and milestones for administrative logistics. The draft Training Plan shall be submitted to the OSDBU thirty (30) calendar days after contract award. NASA shall provide comments within two (2) weeks, and the contractor shall make the required changes. The Training Plan shall be finalized when approved. C.3.2 Course Design and Development The NASA Small Business Training Program shall consist of (1) a Basic Training Course that introduces small businesses to NASA, its programs, and its mission requirements and provides information on strategies for pursuing procurement opportunities, and (2) a follow-on Advanced Training Course that focuses on marketing techniques and successful management and execution of NASA contracts and subcontracts. C.3.2a Basic Training Course The Basic Training Course shall include but not be limited to modules on the following topics: Understanding NASA: Vision, Mission, Organizational Structure, Major Programs NASA Small Business Program Federal Procurement Processes (introduction) Subcontracting: NASA Policy, Subcontract Goals, Prime Contractors Teaming Agreements NASA Safety Program Ethics Proposal Writing, Part 1 Learning from Losing The contractor shall develop and submit to the OSDBU for review a Course Plan that is consistent with the approved Training Plan. The Course Plan shall list the learning objectives of the Basic Training Course, include an outline and brief description of the course content, and indicate the instructional methodology to be used with each module taught. Instructional methodologies may include but are not limited to lectures, case studies, scenarios, in-group activities, and role-playing. The contractor shall also submit to the OSDBU for review draft instructor and student manuals to be used in the Basic Training Course as well as drafts of any other course materials. The Course Plan and draft manuals and course materials shall be due to the OSDBU forty-five (45) calendar days prior to the start of the course. NASA shall provide comments within two (2) weeks, and the contractor shall make the required changes. C.3.2b Advanced Training Course The Advanced Training Course shall include but not be limited to modules on the following topics: NASA Policies, Programs, Initiatives (update) NASA Small Business Program (refresher) Marketing NASA Proposal Writing, Part 2 Contract Management: Task / Project Management, Technical Performance Contract Administration: Accounting, Schedules and Deadlines, Reporting Contract Closeout Audits The contractor shall develop and submit to the OSDBU for approval a Course Plan that is consistent with the approved Training Plan. The Course Plan shall list the learning objectives of the Advanced Training Course, include an outline and brief description of the course content, and indicate the instructional methodology to be used with each module taught. Instructional methodologies may include but are not limited to lectures, case studies, scenarios, in-group activities, and role-playing. The contractor shall also submit to the OSDBU for review draft instructor and student manuals to be used in the Advanced Training Course as well as drafts of any other course materials. The Course Plan and draft manuals and course materials shall be due to the OSDBU forty-five (45) calendar days prior to the start of the course. NASA shall provide comments within two (2) weeks, and the contractor shall make the required changes. C.3.3 Course Delivery NASA anticipates that the Basic Course and the Advanced Course will each be conducted two (2) times per contract year and will issue delivery orders to that effect. However, the anticipated number of delivery orders issued is merely NASA?s best estimate and does not constitute a commitment on the part of the government to order said quantities. Additional courses may be ordered and added to the schedule if demand for the courses is high and funding is available. The specific ordering procedures are set forth in the contract?s ?Ordering,? ?Order Limitations,? and ?Indefinite Quantity? clauses. The contractor shall present the courses over three days of instruction. The courses shall be held at or near NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC, and at other sites in close proximity to NASA field centers, the locations of which will be decided upon by the OSDBU. The locations will vary in each contract year and may be determined by OSDBU priorities and calendar. The contractor and the OSDBU will agree on the course fee. NASA reserves the option to videotape each course session to use as additional course experience for its contractors. When sessions are to be recorded, the contractor shall be responsible for the videotaping. C.3.4 Training Program Administration The contractor shall perform all tasks that relate to successful implementation of the NASA Small Business Training Program. Such tasks include but are not limited to the following: Advertising. The contractor shall be responsible for advertising the course(s) to ensure a per course attendance of approximately fifty (50) students. A Marketing Plan, including advertising material to be used, shall be submitted to the OSDBU for approval thirty (30) calendar days after contract award. The contractor shall respond to all training-related inquiries from the general public, via telephone, mail, email, or in person. In addition, the contractor shall develop and link to the OSDBU website a training website that provides information relevant to the courses. The NASA OSDBU will be responsible for ensuring that information about the scheduled courses is included in FedBiz Opps and the NASA Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS). Logistics. The contractor shall make all logistical arrangements for delivering the course(s), once the OSDBU has determined the course location and approved the arrangements proposed. These arrangements include but are not limited to obtaining a classroom, making hotel reservations, making arrangements for food service, and securing any equipment (e.g., overhead projectors, videotapes, laptop computers) needed for the successful teaching of the course(s). The contractor is expected to have, on-site, staff who are experienced in operating these equipment. Registration. The contractor shall manage all aspects of the registration process, including the collection of course fees. In the event the course cannot accommodate the number of participants who apply, the contractor shall develop a waiting list for future courses and shall recommend to the OSDBU the feasibility of scheduling additional courses. The contractor shall also send to registrants, in a timely manner, any pre-course material they should have and shall be responsible for notifying registrants about any changes (e.g., rescheduling, cancellation, change of venue) pertaining to the upcoming course. Record-keeping. The contractor shall develop and maintain a database of course participants and graduates of the courses, their contact information, and other related information. Course Evaluation. The contractor shall develop a course evaluation tool to be completed by each student on the final day of each course, allowing them to comment on the modules / information presented and the quality of the presentations. The course evaluation tool shall be submitted to the OSDBU for approval thirty (30) days prior to commencement of the first course. The contractor shall also prepare a Course Evaluation Report that includes copies of the completed course evaluations as well as a summary of the data collected, a self-assessment, and recommendations for improving or updating the course and course materials. The Course Evaluation Report shall be submitted to the OSDBU within fourteen (14) calendar days after completion of each course. Program Evaluation. The contractor shall develop a program evaluation tool to assess the efficacy of the courses once the participants have left the classroom. The program evaluation tool shall include but not be limited to information that compares the number of NASA contracts or subcontracts each small business has been awarded since completing the course(s) with the number of NASA contracts and subcontracts each small business had been awarded prior to participating in the course(s). The program evaluation tool shall be submitted to the OSDBU for approval thirty (30) days prior to commencement of the first course. The findings of the evaluation shall be reported to the OSDBU on an annual basis, at the end of each contract year. Other Support. On occasion and when tasked by the OSDBU, the contractor shall provide training-related support services that promote the NASA Small Business Training Program. Such services may include representing the Training Program at local or national conferences and other special meetings or events and responding to inquiries and requests from NASA Centers, external constituents, Congress, national trade associations, or educational institutions. The OSDBU will determine the level of effort required and funding available, prior to tasking the contractor. C.3.5 Training Program Deliverables All materials for the NASA Small Business Training Program shall be submitted to the OSDBU in accordance with the following schedule: Draft Training Plan - 30 calendar days after contract award Marketing Plan - 30 calendar days after contract award Course evaluation tool - 30 days prior to commencement of first course Program evaluation tool - 30 days prior to commencement of first course Course Plan(s) - 45 calendar days prior to commencement of the course Instructor?s Manual(s), draft - 45 calendar days prior to commencement of the course Student?s Manual(s), draft - 45 calendar days prior to commencement of the course Other Course Materials, draft - 45 calendar days prior to commencement of the course Course Evaluation Report - 14 calendar days after completion of each course Program Evaluation Report - End of each contract year The courses and all course materials--including but not limited to course manuals and handouts, presentations, videotapes, DVD, CD, software, recordings, evaluations, and evaluation reports--shall remain the property of NASA. C.3.6 Training Personnel The contractor shall ensure that all training and training support personnel providing training and training-related services to NASA on this contract are experienced and qualified to perform the work. Requirements for training design / development experts and for trainers are as follows: Instructional Designers. The lead Instructional Designer must have, at a minimum, a master?s degree in Instructional Design or a minimum of five (5) years experience in the field. Instructors. Instructors shall have a bachelor?s degree and a minimum of five (5) years of training experience in the subject area to be presented. Subject-Matter Experts. The contractor may designate Subject-Matter Experts to present a topical area or may invite a NASA or other government professional to present various modules. The contractor shall ensure that all presenters are familiar with NASA, its mission, and its vision and shall provide them any training necessary for course consistency and coherence.
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