BACKGROUND - Veterans Affairs



TRANSFORMATION TWENTY-ONE TOTAL TECHNOLOGY NEXT GENERATION (T4NG)PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRSOffice of Information & Technology (OI&T)Chief Learning Office (CLO)IT Workforce Development (ITWD)ITWD Certs IIDate: October 5, 2017TAC-18-47715Task Order PWS Version Number: 1.0Contents TOC \o "1-4" \h \z \u 1.0BACKGROUND PAGEREF _Toc480448823 \h 52.0APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS PAGEREF _Toc480448824 \h 53.0SCOPE OF WORK PAGEREF _Toc480448825 \h 53.1APPLICABILITY PAGEREF _Toc480448826 \h 53.2ORDER TYPE PAGEREF _Toc480448827 \h 54.0PERFORMANCE DETAILS PAGEREF _Toc480448828 \h 64.1PERFORMANCE PERIOD PAGEREF _Toc480448829 \h 64.2PLACE OF PERFORMANCE PAGEREF _Toc480448830 \h 64.3TRAVEL OR SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS PAGEREF _Toc480448831 \h 64.4CONTRACT MANAGEMENT PAGEREF _Toc480448832 \h 74.5GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY PAGEREF _Toc480448833 \h 74.6SECURITY AND PRIVACY PAGEREF _Toc480448834 \h 84.6.1POSITION/TASK RISK DESIGNATION LEVEL(S) PAGEREF _Toc480448835 \h 95.0SPECIFIC TASKS AND DELIVERABLES PAGEREF _Toc480448836 \h 105.1PROJECT MANAGEMENT PAGEREF _Toc480448837 \h 115.1.1CONTRACTOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN PAGEREF _Toc480448838 \h 115.1.2REPORTING REQUIREMENTS PAGEREF _Toc480448839 \h 125.1.3TECHNICAL KICKOFF MEETING PAGEREF _Toc480448840 \h 125.2<ADDITIONAL TASK(S)> PAGEREF _Toc480448841 \h 126.0GENERAL REQUIREMENTS PAGEREF _Toc480448842 \h 126.1PERFORMANCE METRICS PAGEREF _Toc480448843 \h 126.2SECTION 508 – ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (EIT) STANDARDS PAGEREF _Toc480448844 \h 136.2.1EQUIVALENT FACILITATION PAGEREF _Toc480448845 \h 146.2.2COMPATIBILITY WITH ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PAGEREF _Toc480448846 \h 146.2.3ACCEPTANCE AND ACCEPTANCE TESTING PAGEREF _Toc480448847 \h 156.3SHIPMENT OF HARDWARE OR EQUIPMENT PAGEREF _Toc480448848 \h 156.4ENTERPRISE AND IT FRAMEWORK PAGEREF _Toc480448849 \h 176.5ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT of INTEREST (Add For A&A Services) PAGEREF _Toc480448850 \h 18APPENDIX A PAGEREF _Toc480448851 \h 20BACKGROUNDThe mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Information & Technology (OI&T), Chief Learning Office (CLO), IT Workforce Development (ITWD) is "To help OI&T succeed through learning." ITWD is the office responsible for IT training and competency model development and implementation for OI&T. Significant work has already been accomplished in this area and ITWD has an established Competency Modeling Program that links training to competencies in VA’s Talent Management System (TMS). The Competency Models provide a framework for learning and career development, and identifies individual competencies that a technology professional should possess to do his/her job successfully, and includes relevant training content that supports the desired proficiency level of the position. VA OI&T Competency Models identify common areas of focus and provide OI&T staff with guidance on identifying learning opportunities that will benefit their own careers and the mission of VA. The focus areas fall into three categories: Core, Technical and Leadership. In order to close skill gaps, ITWD needs to deliver comprehensive workforce development programs to include professional IT certification training that supports the strategic initiatives of OI&T to provide benefits and services to Veterans of the United States by providing high quality, effective, and efficient Information Technology (IT) services to those responsible in an effective, timely and compassionate manner. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTSThe Contractor shall comply with the following documents, in addition to the documents in Paragraph 2.0 in the T4NG Basic Performance Work Statement (PWS), in the performance of this effort.SCOPE OF WORKThe Contractor shall provide Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Professional IT Training Certification courses or modified COTS Certification Training courses both with full pre, during and post offering facilitation and management to enhance the knowledgebase of the VA workforce. The Contractor shall evaluate training effectiveness of the course offerings to provide return on investment data to VA leaders based upon Kirkpatrick’s levels of evaluation and additional learning measures and metrics used by VA.APPLICABILITYThis Task Order (TO) effort PWS is within the scope of paragraph(s) 4.8 Operations and Maintenance, and 4.10 Training of the T4NG Basic PWS.ORDER TYPEThe effort shall be proposed on a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) basis with a Cost Reimbursable-No-Fee, Travel Line Item.PERFORMANCE DETAILSPERFORMANCE PERIODThe period of performance (PoP) for this effort shall be one 12 month base period with four 12 month option periods and one optional task that may be exercised ten (10) times in each of the base and option periods for a period of up to six months each. The PoP shall not exceed 60 months. PLACE OF PERFORMANCEThe primary place of performance for conducting Instructor Led Training courses at VA facilities per Section 5.2(D) and 5.4(B) under this PWS shall be at the ITWD National Training Academy (NTA) located in Falling Waters, WV (relocating to Shepherdstown, WV in summer 2018). The primary place of performance for all other Sections of this PWS shall be at Contractor facilities.TRAVEL OR SPECIAL REQUIREMENTSThe Government encourages maximum utilization of teleconferencing and video conferencing for meetings. Travel shall be in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) and requires advanced concurrence and approval by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Travel and per diem shall be reimbursed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations. Each Contractor invoice must include copies of all receipts that support the travel costs claimed in the invoice. Local travel within a 50-mile radius from the Contractor’s normal duty location is considered the cost of doing business and will not be reimbursed. This includes travel, subsistence, and associated labor charges for travel time. Travel performed for personal convenience and daily travel to and from work at the Contractor’s facility will not be reimbursed. Travel, subsistence, and associated labor charges for travel time for travel beyond a 50-mile radius of the Contractor’s facility are authorized on a case-by-case basis and must be pre-approved by the COR. Travel will not be authorized to the ITWD NTA facility in West Virginia, as that is the primary place of performance.Travel is expected for support of Tasks within Section 5.1 for program related meetings, and within Section 5.2 which may occur at locations other than the Primary Place of Performance. “Other” Government classroom facilities and Contractor classroom facilities, as approved by the COR, may be utilized for the delivery of Instructor Led IT Certification Courses. Approximately 10 travel events are anticipated for up to two travelers for approximately five days per occurrence. “Other” Government classroom facilities may be located throughout the Contiguous United States (CONUS). However, the VA Classrooms below will primarily be used as the “Other” Government classroom facilities:Washington, DCSalt Lake City, UTOther CONUS Locations.CONTRACT MANAGEMENTAll requirements of Sections 7.0 and 8.0 of the T4 Basic PWS apply to this effort. This TO shall be addressed in the Contractor’s Progress, Status and Management Report as set forth in the T4 Basic ERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTYGovernment Furnished Property (GFP) which includes Government Furnished Material (GFM), Government Furnished Information (GFI), and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) may be provided. GFE may include, office space, landline telephone access, laptops, and/or desktops. The Contractor shall be responsible for conducting all necessary examinations, inspections, maintenance, and tests upon receipt. The VA may provide VA specific software as appropriate. The Contractor shall utilize VA provided software development and test accounts, document and requirements repositories and others as required for the development, storage, maintenance and delivery of products. Contractors shall comply with VA security policies and procedures with respect to protecting sensitive data.SECURITY AND PRIVACYAll requirements in Section 6.0 of the T4 Basic PWS apply to this effort. Specific TO requirements relating to Addendum B, Section B4.0 paragraphs 10 and 11 supersede the corresponding T4 Basic PWS paragraphs, and are as follows, The vendor shall notify VA within 24 hours of the discovery or disclosure of successful exploits of the vulnerability which can compromise the security of the Systems (including the confidentiality or integrity of its data and operations, or the availability of the system). Such issues shall be remediated as quickly as is practical, based upon the severity of the incident.When the Security Fixes involve installing third party patches (such as Microsoft OS patches or Adobe Acrobat), the vendor will provide written notice to VA that the patch has been validated as not affecting the Systems within 10 working days. When the vendor is responsible for operations or maintenance of the Systems, they shall apply the Security Fixes based upon the requirements identified within the contract.POSITION/TASK RISK DESIGNATION LEVEL(S)The position sensitivity and the level of background investigation commensurate with the required level of access for the following tasks within the PWS are:Position Sensitivity and Background Investigation Requirements by TaskTask NumberTier1 / Low RiskTier 2 / Moderate RiskTier 4 / High Risk5.1 FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX 5.2 FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX 5.3 FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX 5.4 FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX FORMCHECKBOX The Tasks identified above and the resulting Position Sensitivity and Background Investigation requirements identify, in effect, the Background Investigation requirements for Contractor individuals, based upon the tasks the particular Contractor individual will be working. The submitted Contractor Staff Roster must indicate the required Background Investigation Level for each Contractor individual based upon the tasks the Contractor individual will be working, in accordance with their submitted proposal.SPECIFIC TASKS AND DELIVERABLESThe Contractor shall perform the following:PROJECT MANAGEMENTCONTRACTOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLANThe Contractor shall deliver a Contractor Project Management Plan (CPMP) that lays out the Contractor’s approach, timeline and tools to be used in execution of this TO effort. The CPMP should take the form of both a narrative and graphic format that displays the schedule, milestones, risks and resource support. The CPMP shall also include how the Contractor shall coordinate and execute planned, routine, and ad hoc data collection reporting requests as identified within the PWS. The initial baseline CPMP shall be concurred upon and updated in accordance with Section B of the TO. The Contractor shall update and maintain the VA Program Manager (PM) approved CPMP throughout the PoP.Deliverable: Contractor Project Management PlanTECHNICAL KICKOFF MEETINGThe Contractor shall hold a technical kickoff meeting within 10 days after TO award. The Contractor shall present, for review and approval by the Government, the details of the intended approach, work plan, and project schedule for each effort. The Contractor shall specify dates, locations (can be virtual), agenda (shall be provided to all attendees at least five (5) calendar days prior to the meeting), and meeting minutes (shall be provided to all attendees within three (3) calendar days after the meeting). The Contractor shall invite the Contracting Officer (CO), Contract Specialist (CS), COR, and the VA PM. PRIVACY TRAININGThe Contractor shall submit TMS training certificates of completion for VA Privacy and Information Security Awareness and Rules of Behavior training, and provide signed copies of the Contractor Rules of Behavior in accordance with Section 9, Training, from Appendix C of the VA Handbook 6500.6, “Contract Security.”Deliverables:? VA Privacy and Information Security Awareness and Rules of Behavior Training CertificateSigned Contractor Rules of BehaviorIT PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMThe Contractor shall provide 40 Bootcamp-type training COTS courses that have been approved by the VA COR, to allow VA OI&T staff to attain technical expertise, professional IT certifications, or completion of courses that may be part of a series that ultimately leads to a professional IT certification. The Contractor shall provide curriculum and curriculum materials that are primarily designed for face-to-face, live instructor-led-training (ILT) or if applicable, virtual ILT, that incorporates a variety of presentation techniques to include lecture, individual and group activities, hands-on labs, practical exercises, student handouts, student workbooks, and other learning techniques. The Contractor shall provide Lab/Practical Exercise hardware and software, either as an onsite hardware/software configuration or internet connection to vendor software sites where there are practical labs setup. The Contractor shall verify that access to virtual labs will be connected to Government-owned computers with standard Internet access through ports 80 and 443 only. All course documentation artifacts developed shall be Section 508 compliant. Where certification testing applies to course offerings, the Contractor shall provide the applicable certification testing voucher. The average number of class participants will be ten and the average class duration is estimated to be three to five days. Identification of specific courses and/or repeated offerings is dependent upon future requests for the courses. While these are neither inclusive nor exclusive, for proposal estimation purposes, the typical certifications and courses with estimated durations (some of which can be repeat offerings depending upon demand) are identified in Table 1: Table SEQ Table \* ARABIC 1 –List of Information Technology (IT) Course Topics for Task 5.2; The 40 certification courses may be comprised of, but are not limited to, any combination of the following: DescriptionDurationAgile Project Management2 daysAgile Testing2 daysAgile – Leading a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe Agilist Certification)2 daysCertification of Cloud Security Knowledge Foundation Course (CCSK)2 daysCertified Cloud Security Professional Course (CCSP)4 daysCEB- IT Leadership Academy 3 daysCertified Ethical Hacker (CEH)3 daysCertified in Risk and Information Systems Control5 daysCertified Information Security Manager3 daysCertified Scrum Developer Workshop 3 daysCisco CCNA Routing and Switching5 daysCollaborating and Communicating Agile Requirements2 daysCompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner5 daysCompTIA Network+5 daysCompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CSA+)5 daysCompTIA Security+5 daysHealthCare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner5 daysITIL Foundation 3 daysLeading a Scaled Agile Framework2 daysMCSA: Windows Server 2012 9 daysSAFe 4.0 for Teams 2 daysSAFe Product Manager/Product Owner2 daysSEC401: Security Essentials Boot Camp12 daysThe Contractor shall:Participate in weekly stakeholder meetings with the VA Program Manager, COR, various VA supervisors and managers, and ITWD management to obtain inputs for the development of a Relevant Course Offerings Report. The Relevant Course Offerings Report shall include an analysis of inputs from stakeholder meetings, ITWD management guidance, courses high in demand, and courses with a wait-list, each with a one paragraph synopsis. The bases for the initial report submission shall contain, at a minimum, the list of industry-recognized professional IT certification-related courses, identified in Table 1. After COR review, and on a monthly basis, the Contractor shall analyze all information input sources and update the report with recommendations for new course additions that would benefit VA and meet VA mission objectives, and provide recommendations for removal of courses that are deemed outdated or irrelevant, and resubmit the list to COR for approval.Coordinate VA and non-VA classroom availability and reservation by course date/time and location for the list of face to face courses that the COR has approved for scheduling, and complete classroom reservation forms. Provide a Monthly Course Schedule of COR approved courses, including course name, synopsis, date/time, and location (from Step 2) to the COR. Develop a one page Course Description Factsheet for each COR approved unique course offerings. The Course Description Factsheet shall include the course name, description of training, dates/times, location, and prerequisites. Additionally, prepare a corresponding Supervisor’s Checklist, and other artifacts needed to effectively inform the workforce of offerings, for each approved offering. Once metadata and Section 508 compliant Factsheets, Supervisor’s Checklists, and other artifacts are approved by the COR, the Contractor shall upload these document to the ITWD Intranet Home Page (ITWD portal); update the Factsheet and Checklists as needed if changes are required. Courses shall be listed on ITWD portal at least 60 days prior to the course start date. The Contractor shall Coordinate with the VA TMS team and provide course descriptions, pre-requisites, and testing and time line information to be entered into the electronic TMS system for VA staff to register for municate the course schedule with ITWD Operations and verify course settings are prepared ahead of time for face to face courses. For example, VA may need to verify that Internet connections for labs and practical exercises are ready for course start dates, which firewall ports are open/closed, that assistance setting up virtual labs on Government laptops is ready, or emailing required information and/or hyperlinks to students.Provide customer service to Government students and supervisors during normal business hours to ensure they are informed of all course attendance requirements, provide answers to attendee and supervisor inquiries and provide other course information as required. Engagement activities shall be on-going before, during, and after courses are conducted including ensuing training materials are delivered to the training site, positive confirmation with each attendee is obtained via email and/or annotated telephone conversation at least one week prior to the course start date, resolving student issues during courses, follow ups with students upon course completion, and ensuring completions are annotated in TMS.Provide the 40 Instructor led IT Certification-Related Courses per year and deliver up to 400 student Certification Test Vouchers per year. Test Vouchers shall be issued upon completion of courses and only if requested by the student. It is anticipated that not all students will request a test voucher. When a surplus of test vouchers exists, the Contractor, with COR approval, shall issue test vouchers to students that have previously attended IT Certification Courses but did not complete testing.Administer evaluations of each course by;obtaining the standard ITWD student evaluation form distributing standard ITWD student evaluation forms to all students in every course completed, collecting the completed student evaluation forms, and evaluating the effectiveness of attended training based on Kirkpatrick’s standards of evaluation. Deliver Kirkpatrick’s Standards Evaluation Levels one and three for each course in Quarterly Kirkpatrick Reports, and provide adhoc reporting on learning measures or metrics. Provide a Competencies Mapping Report for each unique course offerings, showing how each certification-related course maps to the existing IT competencies in the VA TMS. The mapping report shall include a complete list of competencies and proficiency levels the certification course can be mapped to for all applicable OI&T Competency Models. Mappings are based on the course content and the effected competencies an employee can gain proficiency in, upon completion of the course. The “ITWD Guide to Mapping Learning Events to Competencies” will be provided upon award.Provide an attachment detailing IT Certification-related courses conducted in the prior reporting month, the number of students trained, the number of students that took a certification exam, and the number of students that passed the exam, for each course, as part of the Contractor’s Progress, Status and Management Report.Deliverables:Relevant Course Offerings ReportMonthly Course ScheduleCourse Descriptions Factsheet and Supervisor’s Checklist (for each unique course) Delivery of 40 IT Certification-Related Courses Certification Test Vouchers (up to 400)Quarterly Kirkpatrick’s Standards Evaluations (for each course evaluated)Competencies Mapping Reports (for each unique course)OPTION YEARS (ONE TO FOUR)If the Optional Periods are exercised by VA, the Contractor shall perform all tasks in Sections 5.1 through 5.2, with the exception of Section 5.1.2 (Technical Kickoff Meeting).OPTIONAL TASKSIT CERTIFICATIONS COURSE INCREASE (OPTIONAL TASK 1) If Optional Task 1 is exercised by VA, the, Contractor shall provide an additional five IT Certification Courses, and up to an additional 50 Certification Test Vouchers, and comply with the requirements outlined in Section 5.2. The Contractor shall update the Monthly Course Schedule to include the new courses. This task may be exercised up to ten times in each of the base and option periods. The PoP for Optional Task 1 shall be six months from date of exercise, but shall not exceed the lifecycle end of the PoP.Deliverables:Course Descriptions Factsheet and Supervisor’s Checklist (for each unique course)Delivery of 5 IT Certification-Related Courses Certification Test Vouchers (up to 50)Quarterly Kirkpatrick’s Standards Evaluations (for each course evaluated)Competencies Mapping Reports (for each unique course)GENERAL REQUIREMENTSPERFORMANCE METRICSThe table below defines the Performance Standards and Acceptable Levels of Performance associated with this effort.Performance ObjectivePerformance StandardAcceptable Levels of PerformanceTechnical / Quality of Product or ServiceShows understanding of requirementsEfficient and effective in meeting requirements Meets technical needs and mission requirementsProvides quality services/productsSatisfactory or higherProject Milestones and ScheduleQuick response capabilityProducts completed, reviewed, delivered in accordance with the established scheduleNotifies customer in advance of potential problemsSatisfactory or higherCost & StaffingCurrency of expertise and staffing levels appropriatePersonnel possess necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform tasksSatisfactory or higherManagementIntegration and coordination of all activities to execute effortSatisfactory or higherThe COR will utilize a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) throughout the life of the TO to ensure that the Contractor is performing the services required by this PWS in an acceptable level of performance. The Government reserves the right to alter or change the QASP at its own discretion. A Performance Based Service Assessment will be used by the COR in accordance with the QASP to assess Contractor performance. SECTION 508 – ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (EIT) On August 7, 1998, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was amended to require that when Federal departments or agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use Electronic and Information Technology, that they shall ensure it allows Federal employees with disabilities to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of information and data by other Federal employees. Section 508 required the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) to publish standards setting forth a definition of electronic and information technology and the technical and functional criteria for such technology to comply with Section 508. These standards have been developed are published with an effective date of December 21, 2000. Federal departments and agencies shall develop all Electronic and Information Technology requirements to comply with the standards found in 36 CFR 1194.The following Section 508 Requirements supersede Addendum A, Section A3 from the T4NG Basic PWS.The Section 508 standards established by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) are incorporated into, and made part of all VA orders, solicitations and purchase orders developed to procure Electronic and Information Technology (EIT). These standards are found in their entirety at: and . A printed copy of the standards will be supplied upon request.? The Contractor shall comply with the technical standards as marked: FORMCHECKBOX § 1194.21 Software applications and operating systems FORMCHECKBOX § 1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet information and applications FORMCHECKBOX § 1194.23 Telecommunications products FORMCHECKBOX § 1194.24 Video and multimedia products FORMCHECKBOX § 1194.25 Self-contained, closed products FORMCHECKBOX § 1194.26 Desktop and portable computers FORMCHECKBOX § 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria FORMCHECKBOX § 1194.41 Information, Documentation, and SupportEQUIVALENT FACILITATIONAlternatively, offerors may propose products and services that provide equivalent facilitation, pursuant to Section 508, subpart A, §1194.5. Such offerors will be considered to have provided equivalent facilitation when the proposed deliverables result in substantially equivalent or greater access to and use of information for those with disabilities. COMPATIBILITY WITH ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGYThe Section 508 standards do not require the installation of specific accessibility-related software or the attachment of an assistive technology device. Section 508 requires that the EIT be compatible with such software and devices so that EIT can be accessible to and usable by individuals using assistive technology, including but not limited to screen readers, screen magnifiers, and speech recognition software.ACCEPTANCE AND ACCEPTANCE TESTINGDeliverables resulting from this solicitation will be accepted based in part on satisfaction of the identified Section 508 standards’ requirements for accessibility and must include final test results demonstrating Section 508 compliance. Deliverables should meet applicable accessibility requirements and should not adversely affect accessibility features of existing EIT technologies. The Government reserves the right to independently test for Section 508 Compliance before delivery. The Contractor shall be able to demonstrate Section 508 Compliance upon delivery.Automated test tools and manual techniques are used in the VA Section 508 compliance assessment. Additional information concerning tools and resources can be found at Section 508 Compliance Test Results ................
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