Request for Information (RFI) 1.0 BACKGROUND. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Diversity Internship Program (NDIP) provides internship opportunities to diverse undergraduate and graduate students who are currently enrolled, full-time, or part-time, in a degree-seeking program at an accredited post-secondary institution and recent graduates who have graduated within one year of the internship session which they are applying to. Various internship opportunities are offered during the spring, summer, and/or fall for students from accredited Minority Serving Institution (MSI) categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanics Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) and disability communities. The spring and fall sessions are 15 weeks long, running from January to May and September to December, respectively. The summer session is 10 weeks long, running from June to August. The objectives of the VA NDIP are to: Attract diverse groups of individuals to VA related career fields to build an inclusive and diverse VA workforce talent pipeline. Enable post-secondary institution students to gain valuable work experience and experience working for the Federal Government while contributing to the VA mission. Provide interns with an overview of VA careers to achieve a talented workforce drawn from all segments of society. Offer interns a chance to demonstrate their talents and potential, while offering the organization time to evaluate their skills and abilities, as they benefit from contributions the intern provides their teams. Provide opportunities for non-supervisory employees to gain experience, training, and mentoring new staff, as well as opportunities for students to mentor seasoned staff through reverse mentoring experiences that are engaging and provide meaningful work. Provide paid Federal service opportunities to students from all segments of society and socioeconomic backgrounds. NDIP directly supports President Management Agenda (PMA) Priority 1: Strengthening and Empowering the Federal Workforce, Strategy 1: Attract and hire the most qualified employees, who reflect the diversity of our country, in the right roles across the Federal Government and Goal 1.2: Agencies will build equitable pathways int to the Federal government for early career positions, particularly from underrepresented and underserved communities. NDIP also supports applicable Executive Orders (E.O. s) and regulations listed below: E.O. 14035, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce Establishing a Coordinated Government-Wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce E.O. 13562, Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates E.O. 13230, President s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans Executive Order 14045: White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics Executive Order 13171 Hispanic Employment in the Federal Government E.O.13592, Improving American Indian and Alaska Native Educational Opportunities and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities Executive Order 13779-White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities E.O. 13216, Increasing Opportunity and Improving Quality of Life of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Executive Order 13518 Veterans Employment Initiative E.O. 13548' " Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities" Executive Order 14031 Advancing Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Public Law 115-46, VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017, Section 206 VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix D Guidance on Promoting Internships and other Student and Early Career Programs in the Federal Government | CHCOC OPM Guidance on Use of Third-Party Intern Providers VA Administrations and Staff Offices shall provide students an opportunity to intern in a variety of career fields including, but not limited to, medical related fields, human resources, communications, business/finance, contracting, Veterans claims examiner, information technology, cemetery administration, and other occupations in the VA. Student skills, knowledge, experience, and abilities will generally be matched with a suitable intern position. It should be noted that NDIP interns are not Federal employees and do not serve in Federal positions. 2.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE All work shall be performed onsite at a government furnished location. 3.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (PoP) The period of performance for this Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) is one (1) twelve-month base period and four (4) twelve-month option periods. Base Period: 1 October 2024 30 September 2025 Option Period One: 1 October 2025 30 September 2026 Option Period Two: 1 October 2026 30 September 2027 Option Period Three: 1 October 2027 30 September 2028 Option Period Four: 1 October 2028 30 September 2029 4.0 TYPE OF CONTRACT FOR BPA ORDERS Orders placed under this BPA will be Firm Fixed-Price (FFP). 5.0 TRAVEL There will be no funded travel for the Contractors on this BPA. At their discretion, VA offices may offer funding for intern travel during the internship. 6.0 APPLICATION DOCUMENTS Intern application package shall consist of at the below application documents: Intern application. All required fields in both the profile and application form, including responses to the following prompts: Personal, educational, and professional goals and interests and explanation of how this opportunity may enable the student to achieve those goals. Description of any experiences or situations that students feel have influenced their interest. Listing of their research, technical and/or professional experience that is relevant to the opportunity. Listing of their professional/technical skills and abilities that are relevant to the intern opportunity, including knowledge/skills related to certifications, specialized laboratory equipment or techniques, computer hardware, software or computer languages and/or applications. Demographic data Resume (PDF, 2-page limit) without photos Academic Records A copy of an official or unofficial transcript or copies of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institutional systems may be submitted. Transcript or academic records must clearly show the student s name, name of the academic institution, enrollment during the academic term at the time of application, current/completed/enrolled courses, grades, most recent cumulative GPA, and degree in progress. Submitted documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth removed (blanked out, blackened out, made illegible, etc.) Academic or Professional Recommendation: Recommendation should address the applicant s academic record and potential for success in an appointment, such as demonstrated intellectual merit, communication and teamwork skills. 7.0 GOVERNMENT TERMS AND DEFINITIONS 7.1 NDIP National Diversity Internship Program The National Diversity Internship Program (NDIP) is administered by the HCSC. The internship program provides students an opportunity to supplement their academic studies while learning about VA career opportunities and contributing to our mission. 7.2 Primary Mentor The principal POC that shall interact with the intern and provide guidance on project tasks and assignments through direct onsite guidance, approve intern timesheets and invoices, communicating any performance issues with the VA Contracting Office and Contractor. The mentor shall participate and complete all mentor duties outlined in the mentor agreement. Mentors shall submit intern selections to the Contracting Officer (CO)/Contracting Specialist (CS) by required due dates. Failure to return intern selections may result in the request being cancelled by the program office. No changes to the intern s Period of Performance (internship session dates) are authorized without the express written consent of the NDIP Contracting Officer. Upon completion of the internship session, complete and return the NDIP Validation of Services Rendered form provided by the recruiting vendor documenting the period of performance (internship session dates). Provide the intern with the Human Capital Services Center (HCSC) welcome packet, onboarding materials and access to professional development opportunities during the internship. 7.3 Human Capital Services Center (HCSC) The program office assigned to provide program management, marketing, outreach, stakeholder engagement activities and reporting requirements for this contract. HCSC advises and supports the Department in their actions to achieve and sustain a diverse workforce, and to cultivate an inclusive workplace to deliver the best services to our nation s Veterans, their families and beneficiaries. 7.4 Place of Performance All work shall be performed onsite at a government furnished location. Virtual or remote internships are not authorized. Telework is not recommended for trainee or intern positions or during the first 90 calendar days of any probationary period. However, under emergent or extenuating circumstances there may be authorized exceptions on a case-by-case basis and internships shall be administered in accordance with VA Handbook 5011. 7.5 Contract Contracting Officer Representative (COR) HCSC will serve as the NDIP COR for all interns acquired via the NDIP contract. The COR is responsible for receiving, reviewing, approving contract deliverable and communicating with the VA Contracting Office and Contractor on contract administration issues. The NDIP COR will not serve as sponsors for PIV issuance. 7.6 Alternate Mentor The alternate point of contact for the internship. Performs the duties of the primary duties in his/her absence. Responsible for communicating any performance issues with the VA Contracting Office and Contractor. 7.7 Student Students must meet the eligibility conditions outlined for the program by the program start. A candidate must: Be at least 18 years of age. To accept an internship opportunity, the student must be currently enrolled and be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or otherwise legally eligible to work in the United States per FAR Part 22.18. Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Be enrolled during the academic year as a full-time or part-time degree-seeking student in at an accredited Minority Serving Institution (MSI). The U.S. postsecondary institutions that meet the statutory criteria for identification as Minority Serving Institutions and are eligible for this program are listed here: 2022-general_minority-serving-institution-designation-list.xlsx (live.com) The MSI categories include: AANAPISI - Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution ANNH - Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institution HBCU - Historically Black College or University HSI - Hispanic-serving institution NASNTI - Native American-serving nontribal institution PBI - Predominantly Black Institution TCU - Tribal College or University Be available to participate in the full internship session. Additional Eligibility Factors:  Candidates selected for an internship appointment will be required to provide proof of enrollment during the preceding internship term preceding they are applying for. Graduating students may intern up to two sessions immediately following their graduation (i.e., students graduating in December are eligible to intern in the spring and summer, students graduating in May/June may intern in the summer and fall). Students may apply for and are eligible to participate in the program at multiple times during their undergraduate and graduate studies. However, there should not be an assumption or expectation of being selected for another internship. 7.8 Student in Good standing A student who meets the minimum required academic status of the accredited post-secondary institution whose cumulative and current Grade Point Average (GPA) does not fall below the GPA required by the institution. Students who are in academic good standing are not on academic probation or suspension. 7.9 Currently enrolled Student is actively enrolled in a degree/certificate-seeking program a minimum of six semester credit hours, or the equivalent in quarter hours, at an accredited post-secondary institution. Currently enrolled does not differentiate between full-time and part-time students. Students who need to acquire less than six semester hours in order to complete a degree/certificate and graduate are currently enrolled for the purposes of this procurement. 7.10 Accredited Post-Secondary Institution A qualifying educational institution recognized by an accreditation service. See Department of Education s website for a full list of accredited institutions: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. 7.11 Degree Seeking Program A program that leads to a recognized degree or certification by the accredited educational institution. 7.12 Personal Identification Verification (PIV) Sponsor The Mentor s organization POC identified who will be responsible for sponsoring the intern so that the intern may obtain a VA PIV card. This can be the immediate supervisor, manager, program coordinator, or a human resource representative within the mentor s organization. The PIV sponsor determines which type of credential the student will need based on their assignment and duration of required access. The NDIP COR will not serve as a sponsor for PIV issuance. 7.13 NDIP Validation of Services Rendered form This form is provided by the recruiting vendor and submitted to the mentor documenting the period of performance (internship session dates). This form is required to ensure timely, accurate, invoice certification and payment. 7.14 Minority Serving Institution (MSI) MSIs are federally recognized Title IV colleges and universities that enroll high concentrations of minority students. The Department of Education maintains a listing of institutions identified as MSIs. See: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html. 8.0 SCOPE OF WORK The contractor shall provide support with recruiting diverse students from prospective post-secondary and graduate students from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The contractor shall provide students to participate in internship opportunities and gain experience while being exposed to Agency operations, increase their understanding of the Agency s mission, and encourage them to pursue careers with the VA. The Contractor support shall NDIP program recruiting with a focus on underrepresented and underserved communities, application evaluation and processing, data collection and retention, disability support services, professional development training, travel. Housing procurement and reporting. This internship program requires each student to complete 40 hours per week (full-time) or 20 hours per week (part-time) onsite at the VA Headquarters or a field unit facility. Part-time student must be local to the area they are assigned to, and no housing or transportation will be provided. Tasks include, but are not limited to, VA project assignments as will as attending seminars, workshops, training sessions, field trips, etc. Generally, all events shall occur during standard business hours. However, these activities can, and on prior occasions have occurred immediately preceding, or immediately following standard business hours. The Contractor services include recruitment and referral of interns to the agency and. When applicable, procurement of housing and travel. The interns are paired with mentors and their respective assignments based on factors such as, but not limited to, agency needs, student knowledge and skills for the assignment, educational background, career interest and preference for location and type of internship opportunity. It is the contractor s responsibility to ensure that all interns are eligible for placement within VA as based on the opportunity selected for. This includes housing and travel to the internship site and ability to work either full-time or part-time. Contractor shall only submit students for selection based on ability to travel and work the schedule indicated in the opportunity. All VA NDIP information distributed to qualified student shall be reviewed and approved by the COR no later than 30 days before the start of the internship session. NDIP interns will not be assigned to positions such as clinical settings, direct patient care, processing clinical data, or research positions that fall under the purview of the VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA). Interns are permitted to perform administrative duties in clinical setting; however, it cannot be directly related to clinical work or data. VA will not provide NDIP interns academic credit through the NDIP, however the Contractor may offer students academic credit through their programs. The NDIP contract shall provide tasks that meet the following requirements: 8.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for identifying potential students and group affiliates from MSIs as defined in 7.14. 8.2 The Contractor shall be responsible for providing and managing the housing needs and travel logistics of all selected interns and ensuring that student meet the NDIP eligibility requirements, including the definition of a student as defined in 7.7. The Contractor shall maintain official school documentation provided with each application and make it available to VA upon request. Interns must also meet the Contractor s internship eligibility requirements. 8.3 The Contractor shall provide NDIP information to qualified students, including the following: the requirements for an internship with VA and a description of the required components of a complete internship application package defined in 6.0, including any necessary forms. 9.0 TASK AREAS In order to meet the objective of this contract, the Contractor shall perform, at a minimum, the following work tasks each year of the contract s period of performance. 9.1 Task A- Administration Management 9.1.1 The Contractor shall provide a Program Manager. The Program Manager shall serve as the liaison between interns and the Task Order COR, which includes attempting to resolve any issues or problems related to the intern s experience within the program and communicating with the Task Order COR to determine the best course of action to reach resolution. This individual shall 1) receive and respond to all calls and inquiries from the Task Order COR and interns; 2) provide guidance, answer questions, and resolve problems; and 3) respond to inquiries within (1) business day of receipt. The Contractor shall notify the CO and COR within 3 business days of Program Manager changes. 9.1.2 The Contractor shall identify A Program Manager to serve as the primary emergency contact during all intern sessions. This requirement shall be met by an actual person(s) and not a cell phone, answering service, or answering machine. This individual(s) shall be on-call, and shall respond to all intern related emergencies, including, but not limited to, medical and personal emergencies. Medical and person emergencies shall be defined as situations involving one of the following: Immediate threats to life, health, property, or environment. Already causes loss of life, health detriments, property damage; and/or Incidents having a high probability of leading to immediate danger to life, health, property, or environment. 9.1.3 The contractor shall coordinate all correspondence with NDIP applicants throughout the application process, which may include, but is not limited to, notifying applicants of whether their application materials have been received, requesting any missing information from applicants (as necessary), providing applicants with status updates, informing applicants of whether or not they have been selected for the program, answering any applicant questions, and informing selected interns of required documentation and their respective deadlines. 9.2 Task B - Recruitment Support Services. 9.2.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for identifying potential students and group affiliates from MSIs. 9.2.2 The Contractor shall ensure that qualified students meet the minimum requirements as stated in 7.7 above. 9.2.3 The Contractor shall distribute the following NDIP information to all interested, qualified students; program requirement knowledge and skills needed to qualify for NDIP and a description of the required components of a complete internship application package defined in 6.0 including any necessary forms. The Contractor shall ensure the qualified students have access to NDIP information through outreach and the contractor application website. 9.2.4 Selection of interns will be in accordance with qualification requirements as stated within the contract PWS and any additional criteria identified on the individual intern request (e.g., degree program area; skills, ability, and knowledge). 9.3 Task C Program Documentation and Reporting 9.3.1 The contractor shall collect internship candidate applications via an online application portal and meets the needs of applicants with disabilities. Contractor shall ensure that all applicants and candidates with disabilities can access information in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 791, et seq., and can access information about a process for requesting and obtaining reasonable accommodations to support their work in the Federal Government, which incorporates the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 12201-12204 and 12210 (as such sections relate to employment). 9.3.2 The contractor shall ensure the student s application collects and include the following information: Name, citizenship status (a lawful permanent resident or otherwise legally eligible to work in the United States per FAR Part 22.18), current address, primary email, secondary email (if available) and a current phone number. Academic status, major, expected graduation year, and Grade Point Average (GPA). Name and type of post-secondary institution the student is enrolled in (e.g., HBCU, HSI, TCU). A copy of their most recent transcript/Grade Record/Report. A letter of reference from a department chair, professor, or academic advisor. A current resume reflecting work experience, volunteerism, awards, leadership, and extra-curricular activities, for Graduate and Doctoral students, CV may not exceed three (3) pages. Demographic info (gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, Veteran s status) Applications packages will be submitted via email. 9.3.3 The Contractor shall ensure internship application packages include all requested information and documentation listed above. Application packages may not contain or refer to the name of the vendor. Only packages that include the necessary information and documentation for participation will be considered complete . Furthermore, only candidates who meet the criteria, as stated in the task order request, will be considered eligible. 9.3.4 The Contractor shall maintain an accurate, secure, and confidential database of applicant information and provide Intern Placement Reports, generated from the database, that include: Name and address of post-secondary school (noting if the school is a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) or Minority Institution of Higher Education (MIHE) while specifying each MSI category, HBCU, HSI, etc.). Mentor, internship site, Mentor email address and phone numbers. Academic status and year. Placement (spring, summer, fall) Session. Grade point average and major. Demographic information (gender, race, ethnicity, Veteran status, disability status, reasonable accommodation needed). CLIN, Order Request. Examine how diverse candidates are represented at each stage of the process. (e.g., application rates, selection rates and completion rates). The Contractor shall provide the COR with the intern placement report no later than two weeks after the start of each session (spring, summer, fall) in which they have placements, to include the above information. 9.3.5 The Contractor shall collect and maintain additional information for those applicants selected as interns, such as mentor s name, title, organization, office, email and work address, telephone number, shall be included. The Contractor shall use this data to develop ad hoc reports for VA as directed by the COR. 9.3.6 The Contractor shall track and maintain intern time sheets (online system, excel spreadsheet, word document, etc.) intended to monitor progress of interns throughout the period of performance. This document must list each intern by name and track the hours worked by each intern from the first week of the program through the end of the session. Timesheets must be approved by the intern s mentor. The Contractor shall provide instructions to the Mentors on completing and signing the intern s time sheets before the first sheet is due. 9.3.7 The Contractor shall provide Monthly Status Reports (also known as the MPR) shall identify any problems that arose and a description of how the problem was resolved. If problems have not been completely resolved, the Contractor shall provide an explanation including their plan and timeframe for resolving the issue. 9.3.8 The Contractor shall deliver Risk Summaries that contain a historical log of issues and risks, their current statuses, their probabilities and impacts, and the responses undertaken by VA and the Contractor to address them. 9.3.9 The Contractor shall provide the COR with a Close Out report in excel format, listing all interns who applied for job opportunities within the VA (identified separately) or other Federal Government by the close of the internship. 9.3.10 The Contractor shall bring actual or potential issues and concerns to the attention of the COR and Contract Specialist (CS) as soon as they are known. Oral reports shall be followed by emailed written reports to the COR within one (1) business day of the original notification, unless otherwise stated by the Contracting Officer (CO). Deliverables: National Diversity Internship Student Timesheets Monthly Progress Reports Risk Summaries Close Out Reports Vendor Welcome Package Recruitment Plan for Contract PoP Recruitment Outcomes Bi-weekly Reports regarding intern placement, invoicing, etc. 9.4 Task D - Intern Requests (Order Request (OR)) 9.4.1 The Contractor shall develop and distribute a Welcome Package tailored to VA that shall be sent to all interns upon intern selection to his/her assigned work location. The package shall include detailed instructions about the NDIP program schedule and other key information including, but not limited to: Dates of the internship, Stipend payment schedule, Payroll tax withholdings, Travel arrangements and instructions Housing arrangements and instructions Local hospital and health care services information, Local transportation information, Leave privileges (i.e., sick), Proposed project assignments, and An internship agreement. 9.4.2 The Contractor shall tailor Welcome Packages for each respective city to which interns are assigned, as travel arrangements, housing arrangements/instructions, hospitalization information and local transportation option vary by location. 9.4.3 The Contractor shall coordinate and procure, on behalf of intern participants, nationwide housing, if needed, that must have reservations for move-in as early as the Friday prior to the start date of each session. The Contractor must oversee move-in on the dates of the Friday through Sunday prior to the start date of the session, unless otherwise given written approval by the COR. The Contractor shall include verification, upon request, that housing is Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) approved and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibilities Guidelines. All housing shall be: (1) an extended stay housing facility with accompanying amenities of a kitchen area, on-site laundry, wireless internet access; (2) furnished; (3) less than 1 hour by local transportation from the intern s assigned worksite; (4) within walking distance of 0.25 miles to public transportation and restaurants; and (5) accessible to medical and emergency services and facilities, places of worship, and local cultural activities. The Contractor shall coordinate and procure housing for the entire term of term of the program (10 weeks for summer, 15 weeks for fall and spring), including any extra days needed for move-in etc. 9.4.4 The Contractor shall arrange and procure all travel, as required for NDIP interns who live outside the commuting areas (more than 50 miles, one way) of their assigned duty locations. The Contractor shall arrange ground transportation for interns from bus/airport/train terminals, ensuring that interns arrive at their assigned housing locations on schedule, and without incident. 9.4.5 The Contractor shall make bi-weekly (every two weeks) stipend payments to interns during the program and withhold appropriate payroll taxes and other required deductions. Stipend payments shall include transportation allowances for the area of the internship. 9.4.6 The Contractor shall provide contractor contact information (email addresses, telephone numbers) to interns and sponsor/mentor information no later than one week prior to the beginning of the session. 9.4.7 The Contractor shall communicate with the program manager and mentors weekly to address any intern related issues reported by the Task Order COR, such as tardiness, non-attendance, poor performance, work conditions and other foreseeable and incidentals with the CO and the Task Order COR and appropriate action will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 10.0 MEETINGS When contract meetings are required, the Contractor shall attend all meetings as required, kick-off meeting, progress meetings, etc. Meetings may occur as either formal or informal and held via onsite at government location, teleconference, video conference or any other format agreed upon between the government and contractor. The Contractor shall attend the mandatory kick-off meeting that may be located onsite at a government location or via a virtual meeting to be determined by the program office. 11.0 TRANSITION ACTIVITIES Transition (End of Contract): The Contractor shall provide services needed to assist in a smooth orderly transition between the Incumbent Contractor and a successor Contractor to ensure minimum disruption to vital Government business. These services may include but are not limited to data and other file transfer, material transfer, coordination with a successor Contractor, and other activities to assist in orderly transfer and establishment of continued operation of the contractual services. The Contractor shall cooperate fully in the transition. 12.0 CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES The Contractor shall provide all deliverables as stated in the chart below: Summary of Deliverable and Milestones (Tasks A-D) Item Deliverable or Milestone Delivery Deadline Deadline for Final Version Welcome Package Deliverable 30 days before start of session 7 days after COR comments Intern Move-In Milestone The Friday through Sunday prior to start of session unless otherwise approved by the COR in writing N/A Start of Summer Program Milestone 1ST Monday in June (Monday) N/A Start of Fall Program Milestone 1st Monday in September N/A Start of Spring Program Milestone 1st Monday in February N/A Stipend payment to interns Deliverable Monday Bi-Weekly (every 2 weeks) N/A Intern Information Deliverable 1 business day after COR request unless otherwise specified N/A Session Placement Report (one report of each task order issued) Deliverable Within 2 weeks of start of applicable session N/A NDIP Information Deliverable Within 30 days of contract award 7 days after COR comments Timesheets Deliverable Friday bi-weekly beginning two weeks after intern start date N/A Monthly Progress Report Deliverable On the 5th of every month N/A Risk Summaries Deliverable On the 5th of every month N/A Close Out Report Deliverable Within 30 days of each session end N/A Session Close-Out (one report of each task order issued) Deliverable Within 30 days of close of applicable session N/A 13.0 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED INFORMATION, EQUIPMENT, AND FACILITIES. The government shall provide office space, telephone service and system access when authorized contract staff work at a Government location as required in order to accomplish the Task associated with this PWS and the other request. All procedural guides, reference materials, and program documentation for the project and other Government applications will also be provided on an as-needed basis. The government shall request other Government documentation deemed pertinent to the work accomplishment directly from Government officials with whom the Contractor has contact. The Contractor shall consider the COR as the final source for needed Government documentation when the Contractor fails to secure the documents by other means. The Contractor is expected to use common knowledge and resourcefulness in securing all other reference materials, standard industry publications, and related materials that are pertinent to the work. VA will provide access to VA specific systems/network as required for execution of the task via remote access technology (e.g., Citrix Access Gateway (CAG), site-to-site VPN, or VA Remote Access Security Compliance Update Environment (RESCUE)). This remote access will provide access to VA specific software such as Veterans Health Information System and Technology Architecture (VistA), Clear Quest, ProPath, Primavera, and Remedy, including appropriate seat management and use licenses. The Contractor shall utilize Government-provided software development and test accounts, document, and requirements repositories, etc. as required for the development, storage, maintenance, and delivery of products within the scope of this effort. The Contractor shall not transmit, store, or otherwise maintain sensitive data or products in Contractor systems (or media) within the VA firewall IAW VA Handbook 6500.6 dated March 12, 2010. All sensitive information shall be protected at all times in accordance with local security office System Security Plans (SSP s) and Authority to Operate (ATO) s for all systems/LAN s accessed while performing the tasks identified in this PWS. 14.0 KEY PERSONNEL 14.1 Certain skilled experienced professional and/or technical personnel are essential for accomplishing the work to be performed. These individuals are defined as Key Personnel whose experience biographies shall be submitted and marked by the Contractor as Key Personnel . Substitutions shall only be accepted if in compliance with the Substitution of Key Personnel provision identified below. Experience requirements applicable to the workshops are significantly more important than type and nature of degree. Key personnel are the following labor categories: Labor Category Description Minimum Education Minimum Experience Program Manager Performs tasks requirement management of a small-scale program encompassing multiple tasks with a total lifecycle budget and complexity comparable to the task order at hand. Tasks may include recruitment and management of the interns to ensure scope and objectives are met in accordance with the PWS; compiling and analyzing technical data; providing instruction on and performing and documenting quality assurance reviews. BA/BS degree 4 years 14.2 The Contractor may propose other labor categories to support the requirement. As well as, and shall designate these additional labor categories as either Key Personnel or Non-Key Personnel. If additional categories are proposed, the Contractor shall invoice at the rate, or at a reduced rate. Any Key Personnel the Contractor offers as substitutes shall have the ability and qualifications, including education and experience, equal to or better than the key personnel whose resume was submitted with the successful proposal. Requests to substitute personnel shall be provided to the CO for review and approval. All notification or substitutions in key personnel shall be submitted to the CO at least 15 days prior to making any changes in key personnel, to the maximum extent practicable. The notification shall be in writing and shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitution. The Contractor shall submit a complete resume for the proposed substitute, and any other information requested by the CO. The CO will evaluate such requests and promptly notify the contractor of approval or disapproval in writing. 15.0 TASK ORDER QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP). Requirement Performance Standard Surveillance Method Outcome PROJECT MANAGEMENT, MILESTONE, AND SCHEDULE a. Milestones are met early or on time with 95% accuracy 100% Inspection of agreed upon milestones per the approved PMP Notification occurs within two business days of potential issue when known in advance or within 24 hours of urgent problems, where less than two business days exist to resolve issue. b. Submits Deliverables in accordance with the deliverables schedule within (+/-) five business days with no more than five incidents of performance slippage 100% inspection of deliverables No more than five incidents of performance schedule slippage WRITTEN COMMUNICATION Uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling 95% in accordance with VA Correspondence manual at: https://vaww.execsec.va.gov/ of the time; communicates information in a succinct and organized manner, produces written information that is appropriate for the intended audience Random Sampling Written communication is consistently error-free and clear and concise so the message is easily understood by others CUSTOMER SUPPORT Courteous and professional interactions to receive and fill task order deliverables and in providing status. Customer (VA) support satisfaction, having no more than 5 incidents of dissatisfaction. Customer Feedback and complaints based on interactions with the contractor Customer problems are resolved within the same business day; no more than 5 incidents spent by Government personnel in providing corrective feedback on unacceptable customer service/professionalism 16.0 SECURITY AND PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS ?????? 16.1 POSITION /TASK RISK DESIGNATION LEVEL(S) Position Sensitivity Background Investigation (in accordance with Department of Veterans Affairs 0710 Handbook, Personnel Suitability and Security Program, Appendix A) Low / Tier 1 Tier 1 / National Agency Check with Written Inquiries (NACI) A Tier 1/NACI is conducted by OPM and covers a 5-year period. It consists of a review of records contained in the OPM Security Investigations Index (SII) and the DOD Defense Central Investigations Index (DCII), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) name check, FBI fingerprint check, and written inquiries to previous employers and references listed on the application for employment. In VA it is used for Non- sensitive or Low Risk positions. Moderate / Tier 2 Tier 2 / Moderate Background Investigation (MBI) A Tier 2/MBI is conducted by OPM and covers a 5-year period. It consists of a review of National Agency Check (NAC) records [OPM Security Investigations Index (SII), DOD Defense Central Investigations Index (DCII), FBI name check, and an FBI fingerprint check], a credit report covering a period of 5 years, written inquiries to previous employers and references listed on the application for employment; an interview with the subject, law enforcement check; and a verification of the educational degree. High / Tier 4 Tier 4 / Background Investigation (BI) A Tier 4/BI is conducted by OPM and covers a 10-year period. It consists of a review of National Agency Check (NAC) records [OPM Security Investigations Index (SII), DOD Defense Central Investigations Index (DCII), FBI name check, and a FBI fingerprint check report], a credit report covering a period of 10 years, written inquiries to previous employers and references listed on the application for employment; an interview with the subject, spouse, neighbors, supervisor, co-workers; court records, law enforcement check, and a verification of the educational degree. The position sensitivity and the level of background and investigation commensurate with the required level of access for the following tasks within the PWS are: Task Number Tier 1/Low/NACI Tier 2/Moderate/MBI Tier 4/High/BI ALL TASKS 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 Contractor individual will be working. The submitted Contractor Staff Roster must indicate the required Background Investigation Level for each Contractor based upon the tasks the Contractor will be working, in accordance with their submitted proposal. 16.2 CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS 16.2.1 Contractor Responsibilities A. The Contractor shall prescreen all personnel requiring access to the computer systems to ensure they maintain the appropriate Background investigation, and are able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language. B. The Contractor shall bear the expense of obtaining background investigations. Within three business days after award, the Contractor shall provide a roster of Contractor and Subcontractor employees to the COR to begin their background investigations in accordance with the ProPath template. The Contractor Staff Roster shall contain the Contractor s Full Name, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, individual background investigation level requirement (based upon Section 7.0 Tasks), etc. The Contractor shall submit full Social Security Numbers either within the Contractor Staff Roster or under separate cover to the COR. The Contractor Staff Roster shall be updated and provided to VA within 1 day of any changes in employee status, training certification completion status, Background Investigation Level status, additions/removal of employees, etc. throughout the PoP. C. The Contractor shall coordinate the locations of the nearest VA fingerprinting office through the COR. Only electronic fingerprints are authorized. D. The COR shall ensure the following required forms are submitted to the COR within 5 days after contract award: 1) For a Tier 1/Low Risk designation: a) OF-306 b) DVA Memorandum Electronic Fingerprints 2) For Tier 2/Moderate or Tier 4/High Risk designation: a) OF-306 b) VA Form 0710 c) DVA Memorandum Electronic Fingerprints The Contractor personnel shall submit all required information related to their background investigations (completion of the investigation documents (SF 85, SF 85P, or SF 86) utilizing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (eQIP) after receiving an email notification from the Security and Investigation Center (SIC). The Contractor shall certify and release the eQIP document, print, and sign the signature pages, and send them encrypted to the COR for electronic submission to the SIC. These documents shall be submitted to the COR within 3 business days of receipt of the eQIP notification email. (Note: OPM is moving toward a click to sign process. If click to sign is used, the Contractor should notify the COR within 3 business days that documents were signed via eQIP). E. The Contractor shall be responsible for the actions of all personnel provided to work for VA under the contract. If damages arise from work performed by Contractor provided personnel, under the auspices of this contract, the Contractor shall be responsible for all resources necessary to remedy the incident. F. A Contractor may be granted unescorted access to VA facilities and/or access to VA Information Technology resources (network and/or protected data) with a favorably adjudicated Special Agreement Check (SAC) or Closed, No Issues SAC fingerprint results, training delineated in VA Handbook 6500.6 (Appendix C, Section 9), and the signed Contractor Rules of Behavior . However, the Contractor will be responsible for the actors of the Contractor personnel they provide to perform work for VA. The investigative history for Contractor personnel working under this contract must be maintained in the database of the OPM. G. The Contractor, when notified of an unfavorably adjudicated background investigation on a Contractor employee as determined by the Government, shall withdraw the employee from consideration in working under the contract. Failure to comply with the Contractor personnel security investigative requirements may result in loss of physical and/or logical access to VA facilities and systems by Contractor and Subcontractor employees and/or termination of the contract for default. Identify Credential Holders must follow all HSPD-12 policies and procedures as well as use and protect their assigned identity credentials in accordance with VA policies and procedures, displaying their badges at all times, and returning the identify credentials upon termination of their relationship with VA. Contractor employees shall complete a VA Systems Access Agreement if they are provided privileges as an authorized user of the computer system at VA. 16.2.2 Physical Security and Safety Requirements The Contractor and their personnel shall follow all VA policies, standard operating procedures, applicable laws, and regulations while on VA property. Violations of VA regulations and policies may result in citation and disciplinary measures for persons violating the law. The Contractor and their personnel shall always wear visible identification while they are on the premises. VA does not provide parking spaces at the work site; the Contractor must obtain parking at the work site if needed. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to park in the appropriate designated parking areas. VA will not invalidate or make reimbursement for parking violations of the Contractor under any conditions. Smoking is prohibited inside/outside any building other than the designated smoking areas. Possession of weapons is prohibited. The Contractor shall obtain all necessary licenses and/or permits required to perform the work, apart from software licenses that need to be procured from a Contractor or vendor in accordance with the requirements document. The Contractor shall take all reasonable precautions necessary to protect persons and property from injury or damage during the performance of this contract. 16.2.3 Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure The Contractor shall follow all VA rules and regulations regarding information security to prevent disclosure of sensitive information to unauthorized individuals or organizations. The VA CO will be the sole authorized official to release in writing, any data, draft deliverables, final deliverables, or any other written or printed materials pertaining to this contract. The Contractor shall release no information. Any request for information relating to this contract presented to the Contractor shall be submitted to the VA CO for response. Contractor personnel recognize that in the performance of this effort, Contractor personnel may receive or have access to sensitive information, including information provided on a proprietary basis by carrier, equipment manufacturers and other private or public entities. Contractor personnel agree to safeguard such information and use the information exclusively in the performance of this contract. Contractor shall follow all VA rules and regulations regarding information security to prevent disclosure of sensitive information to unauthorized individuals or organizations as enumerated in this section and elsewhere in this contract and its subparts and appendices. Contractor shall limit access to the minimum number of personnel necessary for contract performance for all information considered sensitive or proprietary in nature. If the Contractor is uncertain of the sensitivity of any information obtained during the performance of this contract, the Contractor has a responsibility to ask the VA CO. The Contractor shall train all their employees involved in the performance of this contract on their roles and responsibilities for proper handling and nondisclosures of sensitive VA or proprietary information. Contractor personnel shall not engage in any other action, venture or employment wherein sensitive information shall be used for profit of any party other than those furnishing the information. The sensitive information transferred, generated, transmitted, or stored herein is the VA benefit and ownership alone. Contractor shall maintain physical security at all facilities housing the activities performed under this contract, including any Contractor facilities according to VA-approved guidelines and directives. The Contractor shall ensure that security procedures are defined and enforced to ensure all personnel who are provided access to patient data must comply with published procedures. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of such information as required by VA. Contractors must adhere to the following: The use of thumb drives or any other medium of transport of information is expressly prohibited. Controlled access to system and security software and documentation. Recording, monitoring, and control of passwords and privileges. All terminated personnel are denied physical and electronic access to data, program listings, data processing equipment and systems. VA, as well as any Contractor (or Subcontractor) systems used to support development, provide the capability to cancel immediately all access privileges and authorizations upon employee termination. Contractor PM and VA PM are informed with twenty-four (24) hours of an employee termination. Acquisition sensitive information shall be marked Acquisition Sensitive and shall be handled as For Official Use Only (FUOU) . Contractor does not required access to classified information. Regulatory standard of conduct governs all personnel directly and indirectly involved in procurements. All personnel engaged in procurement and related activities shall conduct business in a manner above reproach and, except as authorized by statute or regulation, with complete impartiality and with preferential treatment for none. The general rule is to strictly avoid any conflicts of interest or even the appearance of a conflict in VA/Contactor relationship. VA Form 0752, Confidentiality of Sensitive Information Non-Disclosure Agreement, shall be completed by all Contractor employees that receive Government furnished laptops, and shall be provided to the CO before any work is performed. In the case that Contractor personnel are replaced in the future, their replacements shall complete VA Form 0752 prior to beginning work. National or Local Emergencies If a national or local emergency occurs during the internship session, the internship may be terminated at no fault of the contractor or government. Emergencies may include emergency pursuant to a pandemic and/or when the traditional worksite/official duty station is closed due to emergency situations (e.g., snow emergencies, floods, hurricanes, pandemics, acts of terrorism). During emergencies, adhere to applicable Federal, VA and local policies for most recent guidance. RFI Questions for National Diversity Internship Program (NDIP) This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION only. Pursuant to FAR Part 10.002(b)(2)(iii) and (viii) (Market Research), the purpose of this notice is to: 1. Determine the commercial practices of companies engaged in providing the needed service; 2. Determine feasibility of use of General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Pursuant to FAR Part 8, FAR Part 12, FAR Part 13, and/or FAR Part 15; and 3. Determine availability of Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and VOSB set aside pursuant to FAR Part 19 This notice in no way obligates the Government to any further action. Requirement: This notice is issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Strategic Acquisition Center, Frederick, MD (SAC-F), to identify sources capable of providing the services described in both the attached DRAFT Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Performance Work Statement (PWS) THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these services through a contract with VA, please provide the following information: Submission of Information: All responses must be submitted to Michael Silva (michael.silva3@va.gov) and Alex Alexander on (alex.alexander@va.gov) by 12:00PM EST, on or before Friday May 3, 2024, with a Subject line of "National Diversity Internship Program (NDIP) RFI Response". Responders will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of a response but will not receive individualized feedback on any questions. If your company has the potential capability to perform these contract services, please respond to this Request for Information by providing a capability statement. The number of pages is limited to a total of 25 pages; size shall be no greater than 8 1/2" x 11". The top, bottom, left and right margins shall be a minimum of one inch each. Font size shall be no smaller than 12-point. Times New Roman fonts are required. Samples in item 12 below are exempt from page and font requirements and size limitations. The Capabilities Statement must include the following information: Provide a brief corporate profile of your company. Information in this profile should include: Organization name, UEI, Organization s website, Contact Name, Contact Telephone, and contact email. Business size (Large, Small, SDVOSB/VOSM, WOSB, nonprofit, etc.) NAICS code is 561110, if believe a better NAICS code is suitable please indicate which one and why. If applicable, GSA Schedule/Contract Number, schedule, and SIN category Describe governance in terms of contractor oversight and management necessary to ensure quality of deliverables and contract performance expectations. Describe how you address quality management and continuous process improvement. Describe what factors would affect your pricing model on the in-scope services for this initiative. Describe what additional information about scope requirements are required to provide an informed and competitive solution. Are the objectives clearly defined? Do you understand what the VA requires? If not, what information needs to be added, changed and/or reworded? List any questions concerns you have regarding this notice and the draft document. Housing Capabilities Describe your current ability to procure housing for interns within .25 miles of local transportation? Do you have contracts with universities for housing? Travel Procurement Capabilities Describe how you will manage costs for travel to respond to short lead time selections or needed intern replacement when confirmation of interns occurs less than 30 days from the period of performance. How often will you need to invoice the VA? How many years of experience do you have recruiting diverse interns from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)? Please provide the yearly volume of interns selected from MSIs. Do you have an electronic timekeeping system that the Mentor will be able to access to certify timecards? Are you able to pay stipends biweekly after intern start date? Example: Intern start date is Monday, the stipend and/or other monies should be direct deposited two weeks later on designated date (Monday). Do you have integration with other recruitment platforms such as Indeed, Corporate Handshake, or other established diversity recruitment platforms? Describe how you routinely leverage social media for ongoing recruitment activities to ensure that you have a diverse talent pool prior to the solicitation issuance. Describe In person/on campus recruitment activities to include any formal partnerships or school affiliations. Do you offer any other type of student services such as talent referral? If so, please describe capabilities to diversify talent pipeline. How do you qualify prospective candidates Verification of employment to ensure only U.S. Citizens are referred? Disclaimer: This Request for Information is for market research purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Quotation. It is not considered to be a commitment by the Government to award a contract nor will the Government pay for any information provided. No basis for a claim against the Government shall arise from a response to this Request for Information or Government use of any information provided. Failure to submit information in sufficient detail may result in considering a company as not a viable source and may influence competition and set-aside decisions. Regardless of the information obtained from this Request for Information, the Government reserves the right to consider any arrangement as deemed appropriated for this requirement. Respondents are advised, the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response to this Request for Information.
